Art House, Wellington, 2018
When I decided to do what was originally called “A private viewing”, I thought it was going to be about me randomly placing some artwork in someone’s home for a few hours, and a few people coming to take a look.
Man was I wrong.
The artwork just melted into Lisa's beautiful already-art-filled home, and it felt so right. All of a sudden the evening became an exhibtion for me: a collection of my artwork that I’d never put together before, seen in a brand new context. That’s why I ended up calling it the Fleur Wickes Art House. Because, for those few hours, that’s exactly what it felt like it was.
Lisa, ever the excellent host, lit candles and the fire. The food was good. So was the punch. Don’t get me started on the people…
It was diverse bunch. Half the people I’d known and worked with for years. I’d photographed one couple’s wedding back in the day, as well as made portraits of their three sons. The other half, I’d only interacted with via social media and/or them buying work from me online. It was really a joy to meet them.
There was just this vibe in the house that was kinda magical.
We sat round by the warmth of the fire, and I talked for a wee bit about my life and times so far, then opened it up to the floor for questions. The questions were as diverse as the people and god I loved answering them, even the tricky ones where I literally couldn’t get the answer out of my mouth and made shapes with my hands instead that kinda looked like a dolphin rising from the water [= much hilarity from assembled group, lol]. It felt to me like a wonderful play,
Following is a series of photographs I made of how my artwork looked in Lisa's space. I love how these photographs have become artwork in their own right, due to the fact they are my artisitic response to how the space and artwork and light and evening felt to me.
I have purposefully made the photographs black and white, so that the colour and vibrancy and warmth of Lisa's home and the enchantment of the evening is left between me and those of you who joined me there: I love that some things can really only be experienced in real time, in real life.
Thank you so much to everyone who joined together to come along to a private home in Melrose, and made this evening so very good.
F x
[PS: A red link means you can click on it to see more information.]
Welcome to the Fleur Wickes art house
Lisa’s welcome sign, with “it’s beautiful here at the edge, 2018” [box-framed] sitting alongside.
Aroha
Aroha sums up the beautiful feeling throughout Lisa’s lovely home.
I made the original “under the cover of stars and darkness” [scroll down a little to see the original, hanging above a bed] for an exhibition at Te Manawa in 2013 and the edition has sold out.
I am so in love with this photograph, which I made just before the Art House Wellington evening got underway, that I’ve decided to release it as a studioprint, and a limited edition exhibition print.
Because if you’re very very lucky, when you come undone under the cover of stars and darkness, aroha is the result.
Dining room with my work, and Barbie table
I had this dining room table for my Barbie when I was a child! Loving it! “All the stars, 2018” and “it’s beautiful here at the edge, 2018” [custom-framed] in the background.
Beautiful, and my shadow
“The road I’m on, 2018” sitting underneath the most appropriate words.
Two shadows in the light of the afternoon
“The road I’m on, 2018” and one more shadow.
Come home and another arc echoed
“Come home to my arc and my flood, 2017”, taped onto the window blind.
In amongst the others.
“Protection, for Teresa, 2018” , a commissioned portrait, in amongst the Lisa’s family photographs. I’ve got some spots left in my commissioning schedule for 2018, so hit me up if you’re interested in knowing more.
Under the criss-crosses
“There are so many ways, for Hannah” [workrprint from my upcoming exhibition] with “Sleep well I am still here, 2018.”
Mary and Jesus + my artwork = divine
“There are so many ways, for Hannah” [workrprint from my upcoming exhibition] with “Sleep well I am still here, 2018.” Had to show you a close-up as I love the detail in both these artworks.
I love gaffer tape.
Workprint of the first iteration of “there are so many ways to fly” [from my upcoming exhibition of the same name] taped onto one of Lisa’s existing artworks. My gaffer-tape love comes from my father.
Lamp light
“I wanted to tell you love, 2017” above, and “The Lovely Boys, 1997” below. Both basking in gentle lamp light.
The lovely boys
This photograph, “the lovely boys, 1997” means so much to me that I had to show you twice. Plus I may go back to Lisa’s and steal the drawers.
IN L AND B'S UNFINISHED BEDROOM
“Lay me down with a gentle hand, 2017”. I made this especially for L. It’s printed on banner/billboard fabric, has got rivets in it, is attached to the wall with stainless steel pins, and it kicks ass. There are four more prints left in this edition. Contact me if you want to know more.
I wrote a post about it because I love this photograph.
Daydream taped to the window on the wall
Workprint of a much larger artwork, “daydream 2016”.
It's fitting that I put “daydream” at the end of this series of photographs because this art house exhibition at Lisa’s was kinda like a lovely nightdream.
Q&A, in vivid colour.
Me doing my best to answer the questions… as me and the people that were in the room very well know, I didn’t always succeed. To the great amusement of everyone in that lovely warm happy fire-lit place.