Photographic exhibition

Press, 9 July 1986, Page 23

Photographic exhibition

“Maori Point,” photographs by Julie Riley at the James/Paul Gallery, 567 Colombo Street until July 12. Reviewed by Pat Unger.

Julie Riley’s exhibition of photographs could be subtitled “The great New Zealand holiday at the beach” or "Halcyon days of childhood” or even “Sunbathing in the sunless summer of Southern latitudes.” Taken at Maori Gardens, Banks Penin-'

sula, they show the typical baching, fishing, lazing New Zealand January by-the-sea. Her 12 framed assemblages each contain from two to 12 cut and butted photographs. By using this montage technique, Riley aims to break out of compositional conventions, increase the visual information and spread the focus. Her camera work is straight, with a sense of honest directness; the only manipulation being that of

juxtaposing minor shifts of camera view, to heighten the impact of multi-images. These photocollages are not so much in the David Hockney style of "discrete separate glimpses” but more “several steady stares.” They are concerned not with photographic "mood” but "seeing it all.” This directness has great appeal. The boys’ tree-hut, family picnics, pleasures, and the flotsam of the sea suit both her presentation and the black and white photographic medium. The contrasting lightdark of the leaves, trunk, tin, boys and hut in a long narrow format is a very satisfying work. In No. 7, with 12 photographs in a more ambitious montage, Riley focuses sharply on detail of hessian, corrugated iron and boys in the seclusion of their entangling foliage; it is a visual pleasure. Her New Zealand picnic is a casual litter of jandals, teapots, boats, kids and grannies. Her camera highlights both their privacy and their freedom. Hills of trees spill to the shoreline, giving these people a sense of intimacy in their seclusion away from the mar-ket-place and the schoolroom.

Less interesting are the flat areas of grey unbroken sea, sky or sand. The need for animation, whether through events, light-dark contrasts or visual trivia, seems necessary in this style of black and white photography — large spaces of neutrality belong elsewhere. If you enjoy photography, don’t miss this excellently presented show.