Tags
Art, Auckland, En plein air, Exhibition, Gow Langsford, Karl Maughan, New Zealand, New Zealand Art, NZ, Paint, Visual Arts
I covet a Karl Maughan painting. My parents have the one shown above hanging in their lounge. It’s the first thing you notice when you walk into the room. I love it. I want to know what is around the corner of the path. I feel as if I could just step into the painting…
According to the Gow Langsford bio’ on Karl Maughan, he is “recognised for his hyper-real paintings of lush gardens and native fauna – flower gardens, vegetable gardens, manicured bushes and out-of-control wildernesses – he finds inspiration in them all. At first Maughan began painting these settings in the tradition of ‘plein-air’ – in the outdoors. However, struggling with changeable elements such as wind, light and weather became too problematic. Painting outdoors also became an issue when Maughan relocated to London in the 1990’s. Based there for many years, cooped up in a studio in the East End, Maughan found that he missed the wide open spaces and lushness found in New Zealand gardens. Maughan began to source a growing archive, capturing gardens on film, to take back to his studio where he could then play and reinvent colours, lighting and perspectives. The resulting works were an explosion of colour, encompassing viewers in surrealist fantasy landscapes.”
For me, Karl Maughan’s work has a colourful and idealistic joy. Looking at his paintings makes me happy. What do you think?
An exhibition of new works by Karl Maughan opens at the Gow Langsford Kitchener St Gallery in Auckland, New Zealand on Tuesday 2nd October. Sadly, I won’t be attending…
If you would like to learn more about Karl Maughan, or see him create a major (5 metre long) artwork for a limited edition wine release by Christensen Estate, there is a 60 second movie of his month-long endeavour here.
birdcagedesign said:
Really amazing detail and colour! I love the koromiko road one! 🙂
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This Sydney Life said:
It actually makes me a little homesick to look at KM’s work.
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whatimeant2say said:
They look like photographs!
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This Sydney Life said:
Doesn’t it make you want to visit New Zealand…?
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whatimeant2say said:
Of course!
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Shira said:
So very beautiful! I do love landscapes and these look so surreal. My fave is the last one for sure! So much glorious detail 🙂
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This Sydney Life said:
I’m not surprised it touches a chord with you, S. All that lovely colour and nature…
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marinachetner said:
these paintings are fabulous. I love their colour and look. I’d like one too!
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This Sydney Life said:
Maybe we can get a discount for 2, M…?
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