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Elizabeth Thomson

b. 1955

Elizabeth Thomson’s elegantly refined works redefine the way we view and consider the inherent beauty of the world around us. All aspects of her practice are meticulous and the technical virtuosity she employs to create the effects of optical illusion are simply breath-taking. Using an inscrutable observation of nature as her stating point, Thomson convincingly recreates botanical, entomological or molecular forms that she then incorporates into surprisingly abstract geometric compositions. In her Aviatrix series, oil painted bronze leaves of New Zealand native flora are arranged in exaggerated linear perspective; a ‘leaf’ becomes a ‘tree’ as the artist evokes aerial views of olive groves or elaborate formal European garden designs. Elizabeth’s innovative use of often unexpected combinations of materials include moulded and engraved fibreglass, glass bead embedded in resin and elaborate hand-formed glass elements. Although her primary reference is always the natural world, her reinterpretation and recontexualizing of these fundamental forms often results in an edgy sci-fi twist.

In 2006 Elizabeth’s exceptionally unique contribution to New Zealand art was acknowledged and celebrated with a major 20 year survey exhibition curated by Gregory O’Brien for City Art Gallery, Wellington: Elizabeth Thomson: My Hi-Fi, My Sci- Fi. This extensive exhibition toured five public venues throughout the country and was accompanied by a 50 page catalogue publication.

Sublimation
2010
acrylic, lacquer & acrylic paint on moulded fibreglass & resin on wood
1120 x 1120 x 40mm

Sublimation (detail)




Sublimation (installation)




La Plančte Sauvage V, Tharsis
2009
acrylic, epoxy resin, lacquer & acrylic paint on convex wood disc
720mm diameter

La Plančte Sauvage V, Tharsis (detail)




La Plančte Sauvage V, Tharsis (installation)




La Plančte Sauvage II: Mare Sireum
2009
acrylic, epoxy resin, lacquer& acrylic on convex wood disc
950mm diameter

La Plančte Sauvage II: Mare Sireum (detail)




La Plančte Sauvage II: Mare Sireum (installation)




Not Far From Home
2010
acrylic, epoxy resin, glass spheres & acrylic paint on wood disc
1000mm diameter

Not Far From Home (detail)




Not Far From Home (installation)




Delta
2010
acrylic, epoxy resin, glass spheres & acrylic paint on wood panel
1120 x 1500mm

Delta (detail)




Delta (installation)




Aqua Rosa
2011
acrylic, epoxy resin, glass spheres & acrylic paint on wood panel
1050 x 450mm

Aqua Rosa (detail)




Aqua Rosa (installation)




La Plančte Sauvage, Another Blue World
2011
pigment ink on archival rag paper, AP 5
558 x 447mm

La Plančte Sauvage, Another Blue World (detail)




La Plančte Sauvage, Another Blue World (installation)




Botanical Icon II
2011
bronze, hand-formed glass & oil paint on panel
360 x 360mm

Botanical Icon II (detail)




Botanical Icon II (installation)




Astrophysics Series ll Vlll
2008
zinc, oil paint, lacquer & acrylic on wood
1200mm diameter

Astrophysics Series ll Vlll (detail)




Astrophysics Series ll Vlll (installation)




Astrophysics Xll
2008
Zinc, oil based pigment and acrylic on baord
450mm

Astrophysics Xll (detail image)




Botanical Icon
2006
bronze, hand-formed glass & oil paint on panel
360 x 360mm

Botanical Icon II (detail)




Botanical Icon (installation)




Jonquil Inteference Vlll
2007
glass spheres, polymer, resin & paint on wood
1200 x 1200mm

Jonquil Inteference Vlll (detail)




The Black and Whites
2006-07
patinated bronze, casein & oil paint on board 145 bronze moths
dimensions variable (approx 4100 x 4450mm)

The Black and Whites (detail)




Voyage Sauvage
2009
hand formed glass & acrylic on wood
1200 x 1200 x 100mm

Voyage Sauvage (detail)






Home Artists Exhibitions Stockroom Editions

16 buckingham st. arrowtown. new zealand.
p +64 3 442 0467. f +64 3 441 4319. m +64 274 401 665.
info@nadenemilnegallery.com   www.nadenemilnegallery.com