Erin-Monique O'Brien
Exhibition: Counter–Balance
Preview: Friday 9 December, 6–8pm
Dates: 9–23 December 2022
Untitled (candy stripe), 2022, Mixed media in frame on painted wall installation. IMG X Tom Tuetenberg courtesy of the artist © and PAULNACHE 2022
Installation
Counter–Balance
Erin-Monique O’Brien is a New Zealand-born artist. Despite always showing an interest in fine art, it wasn’t until part way through her second year of graphic design study at the University of Tennessee, (USA), that she realised her real interest lied in creating things by hand, revealing marks that can only come from the physical touch. Supported by her artist professors she changed her major to Painting and Drawing and for the first time ever she began to experiment within abstraction.
Much of the current work began as a 100day project. Reusing snippets from older artworks alongside found collage pieces, Erin-Monique built up forms piece by piece. With no importance placed on recreating something that already exists the work focused on the process of piecing collage together in a way that made sense visually. In spite of the pieces being somewhat arbitrary, the playfully energetic work dance around the room as if they are characters, their structure references space and the interaction with surrounding architecture grounds them in the present.
Untitled (It began as a game, series), 2022, Mixed media on paper, 6 x 5cm, IMG X Tom Tuetenberg courtesy of the artist © and PAULNACHE 2022
The artworks confidently vary from one another, held together by grid work and line they constantly reference each other. The closer you look you begin to notice within the series, moments that draw our attention to the concept of fragility. These moments are thought of as intersections, where fragility doesn’t have to be a weakness, instead it can signal a change of direction or a discovery. It is here the work becomes active as if it is involved in its own evolution. It is here that lies potential.
Work
‘Counter Balance’ opens on Friday the 9th of December, 6–8pm at PAULNACHE, Upstairs 89 Grey Street, CBD, Turanga Gisborne. This is Erin-Monique’s solo debut at the Gallery. The artist will attend her opening. The exhibition runs until Friday the 23rd of December 2022.
Download the worklist [PDF document 64kb]
Follow @erinmoniqueobrien on Instagram
Untitled (Remutakas – previously Rimutakas), 2022, Mixed media in frame, 41 x 33.3cm, IMG X Tom Tuetenberg courtesy of the artist © and PAULNACHE 2022