Rohan Wealleans
20th Jan – 5th March 2023
Sustainability is a solo show featuring acclaimed New Zealand artist Rohan Wealleans. Known for his incomparable fusion of painting and sculpture. Wealleans process is experimental, rendering unique outcomes that capture the imagination. His process renders a paint strata, the resulting layers in each work invite deep inspection, offering more the closer you look.
Weallean’s process originally began with a single speck of paint which the artist coated in layers of paint until he had a cannon ball sized lump of acrylic paint. From this first seed of potential Wealleans has developed and perfected his process of layering paint and carving into the surface like a contemporary archaeologist. This process of ‘farming’ renders ‘paint gems’ from which Wealleans conjures new art objects.
The freestanding sculptural works in the exhibition are Wealleans orrery’s. An orrery is a model universe, here Wealleans absurdly investigates scientific concepts through his primitive-like carving process rendering playful reimaginings. His sculpted universe’s twist into organic shapes adorned in harvested paint cones in an array of kitsch colours to create alien terrains and conjure mini terrestrial landscapes.
The monolith works which feature heavily in this show inform a cautionary tale of the perils of technology like a computer motherboard which has gone awry, sprouting spikes and monstrous protuberance’s these are visual manifestations of how technology is taking on a life of its own leaving us powerless in its wake.
This is work to be experienced. Its challenging forms offer both impactful presence and deep investigation, leaving you with a sense of possibility and an attitude of inquisitiveness that stays with you long after you’ve left the gallery.
