Visit our Fine Art Printmakers gallery:
MVH Gallery, at Marlborough Vintners Hotel,
190 Rapaura Road, Marlborough
Currently Exhibiting:
Hidden Spaces
Olav Neilsen
9 July – 19 September 2010
Background to the exhibition
“My artwork is a blend of dreams and what I see in the waking world.
It's an integrated space of the realities of my life."
Olav Nielsen Night Flight
One of the fast-rising stars of New Zealand’s new generation of printmakers, Olav Nielsen pushes the boundaries of what is possible in mezzotint and burnished aquatint, both technically and in his intricate compositions.
The mezzotint Discovered—exhibited for the first time here at MVH—has been selected for the prestigious Pacific Rim International Printmaking Exhibition 2010, one of just 36 works by fine art printmakers from the USA, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands. This added provenance will underline Discovered as a special work for collectors – only two in the edition remain as at July 2010.
Hidden Places includes Nielsen’s latest extraordinary print-and-plate works in which half of the work is the actual etched plate, set alongside the print made from it. Like his juxtaposition of dream and reality within the work, each half is necessary to give the complete picture; but there can only, inevitably, be a single, unique finished work.
There is nothing held back in the sensuality of these works—in the richness of colour, surface, romanticism or narrative. They flow through to a new series of ‘villa’ limited edition prints, this time featuring human figures, exploring, opening drawers and doors, lifting paths, although their discoveries remain personal to the viewer.
Visit the artist’s page on Olav Nielsen to see these stunning new works.
About the artist:
Danish-born, Olav Nielsen was raised in New Zealand from the age of 10, and his artwork reflects his exploration of that duality—colonial and contemporary New Zealand overlaid with memory of Europe. He graduated from the Otago Polytechnic School of Art in 2000, having studied with noted printmaker Marilynn Webb. He has won several awards and residencies, and already has works held in public collections throughout New Zealand, and private collections internationally.
View other printmakers and emerging artists >>
About the MVH Gallery
The Diversion Gallery now offers an additional venue nearby, the MVH Gallery at the Marlborough Vintners Hotel, specifically focused on the work of New Zealand fine art printmakers. Their exquisite limited edition works are displayed in the long gallery reception hall and around The Vintners Room Restaurant of the Marlborough Vintners Hotel - a venue with an air of relaxed, stylish sophistication on Rapaura Road, in the heart of Marlborough’s world-famous vineyards.
Gallery director Barbara Speedy began this project with the Marlborough Vintners Hotel in December 2007, as an adjunct to the exhibition of work by leading NZ artists at The Diversion Gallery at nearby Grove Mill Winery
(about 5 minutes drive away).
It’s exciting to have a venue to focus on this very beautiful medium which is sometimes overshadowed by the high profile of paintings and sculpture. The long history of printmaking – such as etchings, aquatints, screenprints and lithographs – is embedded in intricate workmanship and subtle, often mysterious expression.
The limited edition work is also a very affordable option (priced from $300) for new collectors and for gifts of art, that wide accessibility and dissemination of ideas being part of the original rationale of printmaking. Background on the works and the artists is provided in the gallery.
The MVH Gallery is open every day at the Marlborough Vintners Hotel, 190 Rapaura Road, Marlborough. It is about 10 minutes drive from Blenheim, 5 minutes from Marlborough Airport and is on the State Highway bypass from Picton to Nelson.
Images available: Not all works may be shown on the exhibitor’s page, so please contact Barbara Speedy to view more images.
The Marlborough Vintners Hotel offers stylish, high quality hotel and villa accommodation, restaurant and conference facilities.
Tel 0064 3 572 5094 or visit the MVH website www.mvh.co.nz for more details.
