Rodney Fumpston, 17Feb-19March, Wellington

Rodney Fumpston's New Works are being exhibited at Solander Gallery,
opening on 17 February, through to 19 March.

In his new suite of laser engravings and the accompanying mezzotints, 

Rodney Fumpston continues his preoccupation with his sense of place, 

the exoticism of foreign travel and his relationship with the natural world- especially with gardens.

Rodney Fumpston, Wave, 2015
Laser engraving, 61x40cm, edition of 10

Fumpston sees this new work as anthropomorphic portraiture 

using sea forms collected in recent years of tropical beachcombing. 

This body of work uses laser-engraved Perspex plates and colouring 

that emulates the printing techniques of early postcards and souvenir items. 

There are references to the effect on the environment 

of the tourist’s insatiable need for the ubiquitous holiday souvenir.

Rodney Fumpston, Violet Head, 2015
Laser engraving, 60x90cm, edition of 25

Fumpston’s was born in Fiji and spent his formative years there 

until moved to New Zealand in the 1950s. His family shifted many times. 

This early experience shaped his future to becoming an itinerant traveller as an adult. 

In 2004 he returned to Fiji and bought a house in the vicinity of his childhood and created a lush tropical garden. 

Since then he has largely divided his time equally between Auckland and Fiji.

For more information about these works,
see http://solandergallery.co.nz/rodney-fumpston-new-works