John Reynolds: Nomadology [Loitering with Intent]

One of New Zealand’s most voluble contemporary artists, John Reynolds, presents Nomadology [Loitering with Intent], an accumulation of recent work exploring the power of words, at the Govett-Brewster from 27 March to 13 June 2010.

Taking full advantage of the unique indoor and outdoor spaces of the Gallery, Reynolds explores his predilection for practical language with a considered nod to the jetstream trails of philosophy.

Reynolds casts his net wide, trawling from the everyday to the obscure. Band set lists, song lyrics, lists of dead philosophers, the top ten auction prices for New Zealand art, and the twitter version of literature classics all find their way into this sweeping open-ended conversation about contemporary language systems and meaning.

Reynolds’ material forms range from stacked, hand drawn canvases, to manufactured road signs, writing on walls and fairy lights, to flashing LED motorway signs. He reminds us of use and usefulness, of glitches, gaffs, coincidence, history, danger and exquisite moments of beauty.

The exhibition will also spill out on to the road in front of the Gallery. To Die Laughing, a new LED motorway sign work listing dead philosophers names and the often ironic ways in which they died, will reside on the street in front of the Gallery for the duration of the exhibition. Curated by Rhana Devenport.

Nomadology [Loitering with Intent] is presented with generous the support of Te Kairanga Wines, The Radio Network Taranaki, Sue Crockford Gallery and Starkwhite.

Image: John Reynolds Nomadology 2009 (detail). Courtesy of the artist and Sue Crockford Gallery

Event listed by Kelly Loney

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