After spending the past eight years abroad, artist David Hatcher has returned to New Zealand to delve into the region’s history. Hatcher, who has been studying and working in Berlin, Malmö, Los Angeles and London, is the newest national artist in residence at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery.

Working in a variety of media including painting, silkscreen, installation and video, Hatcher says much of his work explores the structure and effects of language, especially its use for social, political, economic and philosophic purposes.

He will be based at the Western Institute of Technology (WITT) for 12 weeks and during that time he will work among WITT students offering insight into their work practices and produce new work which will feature at the Gallery in early 2007.

While in Taranaki, Hatcher is researching local documents for use in future printing projects and is also researching differing understandings of aesthetic practices in the region, from fine art traditions to everyday applications.

He says he is enjoying being back in the region, where he spent a few years as a child. "When I was young I lived in Patea and we used to visit New Plymouth from there, but I haven't spent much time in Taranaki for more than 20 years, so it's amazing coming back and remembering all sorts of things, the colour of the sand, the mountain always there in the background.”

Hatcher has exhibited in group and individual exhibitions nationally and internationally and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Canterbury University's School of Fine Arts, a Diploma in Critical Studies from Sweden's Malmö Art Academy, and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of California, Los Angeles.

 The residency programme is focused on the presentation of new work by one New Zealand and international artist every year and is developed in partnership with WITT and supported by Creative New Zealand.

ENDS

Lauren Andreoli
Communications Co-ordinator 
laurena@govettbrewster.com
+64-6-759-6717