SEMANTIC BLISS
21 April – 22  July 2007

The Govett-Brewster Art Gallery is pleased to present the work of David Hatcher 2006 New Zealand Artist in Residence in the exhibition Semantic  Bliss.

Investigating a range of cultural practices that combine abstract form with simple colour, Hatcher's inspirations for Semantic Bliss range from the history of modern and minimal abstraction, Andy Warhol's Brillo Box, Donald Judd’s sculptures, through to the use of cuisenaire rods in Te Reo language teaching.

Acknowledging that meaning can only be achieved by group consensus, as defined by society, culture, religion or language, Hatcher has chosen to work with abstract forms as they can be assigned different meanings in different contexts.

This exhibition features large scale acrylic wall paintings of geometric forms as well as sculptures of plain coloured blocks placed on the floor.  Hatcher will create temporary arrangements with these blocks, configuring them according to different assigned meanings, to represent narratives or ideas important to his work.

A series of Te Reo workshops are also scheduled to take place in the Gallery space, using these same coloured blocks in the place of cuisenaire rods.  Hatcher intends workshop participants, as well as other invited guests, to construct their own narratives, assigning new meanings and arrangements to the blocks and the artworks.

Exhibition Curator Mercedes Vicente says “in Semantic Bliss Hatcher continues his critical examination into the realm of Western aesthetics and semiotics started in prior works such as Oedipal Manoeuvres in the Dark or Holding Pattern.
 
“He challenges the creation of universal meanings and knowledge through the use of visual forms - like shapes or diagrams - with a fanatical sense of humour and healthy scepticism at his own efforts”. 

Hatcher spent three months in New Plymouth last year involved in the Govett-Brewster’s Artist in Residence program. The program, run in partnership with the Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki and supported by Creative New Zealand, brings one New Zealand and one international artist to the Gallery each year.

Gallery Director Rhana Devenport says “Hatcher’s research and exhibition project continues the potent interchange of ideas and practices that is made possible via the Artist in Residency programme”.  

Currently based in Berlin, Los Angles and Puhoi, Hatcher has exhibited in numerous exhibitions nationally and internationally. His work is currently featured in Telecom Prospect 2007 at City Gallery Wellington and Whenever it Starts it is the Right Time – Strategies for a Discontinuous Future at the Frankfurter Kunstverein in Germany.

Educated both in New Zealand and overseas, Hatcher is a graduate of Ilam School of Fine Arts, Christchurch, and holds a Masters of Fine Arts from UCLA and a Diploma in Critical Studies from Sweden’s Malmo Art Academy.
 
David Hatcher’s Semantic Bliss is presented at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery from 21 April until 22 July. Also showing is Tom Kreisler until 13 May and New Nature from 26 May until 2 September.

Ends

For more information please contact:

Hannah Leahy
Communications Co-ordinator
hannahl@govettbrewster.com
+64-6-759-6717

or

Rhana Devenport
Director
rhanad@govettbrewster.com
+64-6-759-0854