Successful first one-man show

Press, 23 October 1976, Page 6

Successful first one-man show

People should not miss Julia Morrison’s first oneman show at the Brooke/ Gifford Gallery. Tall, elegant paintings hang in dignified series round the walls, making an indelible first impression. Painted with lacquer on particle board, and entitled “Antithesis,” they are not the kind which challenge artistic conventions. Like Hotere’s work, they appeal initially because of their dark colour and subtle surfaces. Unlike Hotere in content, however, they are concerned with plastic rather than poetic qualities. In the most interesting a spatial relationship is created making the long rectangular panels of bronze or grey paint appear to hang in front of their sombre backgrounds. This is achieved with ,a contrast of tone and texture which is exactly right in the best works. Without this spatial factor the effect is only decorative, and in two works even monotonous.

The drawings, all titled “Align to a Line,” are more specific in their aim, and in general extremely success-

ful. Precisely executed with a draughtsman’s pen, they consist of parallel lines drawn closely together to form planes which interlace in intriguing yet satisfying symmetrical formations; at times a kind of visual knot. Interwoven through these in some works a black “lace” forces the lines impossibly forward and back. The lace passes between the lines like the weaver’s shuttle leading the eye through the design.

A more lateral movement is explored in the etchings where several plates of the same shape and size are printed in different arrangements. These have not the finality of the drawings. The exhibition as a whole is cohesive and a fine example of craftsmanship and presentation. It is pleasing to see a young artist who has absorbed the influences of established painters evolving a personal direction. In spite of these attributes it is the consistent manner in which the ideas are pursued which impresses most. The exhibition continues until October 29. —Michael Thomas