From Street to Canvas
Collecting images and text from surrounding streets and city, Jay Hutchinson translates colour, line, text and attitude onto stretched and dyed linen. Hand embroidery is a quiet, contained and thoughtful pursuit, embroidery’s historical significance describes a particular narrative or lineage.
It is Hutchinson’s fusion of street and this kind of needle that surpasses the familiarity of these two worlds; creating new narratives and works that relinquish ties from both origins. A continued theme is one of labour and the evidence of the artist’s hand.
'Russell Street' is an exploration of fluid lines and texture so often created on a wall by a marker or spray can. Pitted gaps are recreated and layering of text is investigated with each stitch.
'All I Wanted', 'Shopping List' and 'Thumper', refer to the scribbling and lists found in the back of a what could be a distracted student’s hand book, the printed linen appears initially as lined, refill paper.
Hutchinson has exhibited in New Zealand and Australia, including 'Op-Shop' curated by Justin Paton at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery. Public endurance performances such as 'Sweat Shop' and more recently 'A Patch Work Orange' concluded his final MFA project at the Otago School of Art in Dunedin, 2008.
Hutchinson resides and continues his art practise in Dunedin, New Zealand. |
