Liam Barr : Bibliography and profile

PROFILE

image of artist Liam Barr

Statement:

Within the land you will find people on it. How we respond, embrace and interact with it has fascination for me. The ecosystem is as intrinsically linked to our survival as it is our need to preserve it. We underestimate its fragility in blind ambivalence, knowing, yet unable to make the required change toward preservation and nurture. My work forms a connection with the subjects and the land they live on. Each is a solo contemplation of thought, mindfulness and their turangawaewae (place to stand).

Biography:

Liam Barr (b. Scotland 1966) immigrated to New Zealand with family (1974). Travelling in his 20’s, Barr settled in Perth, WA, where he trained and worked as a graphic designer before returning to New Zealand (2004) to further develop his art practice. The exploration of folk, history and the peculiarities therein is at the essence of Barr's work and he continues to define this experience expressed through meticulous attention to form and structure within the development of his subjects. His work depict all manner of situations and character types, from his early magic surrealist pieces 'Adrift' to the tiki inspired works 'Hei Tiki-Hi Mate' / 'GrandLand' to the pioneer themed works of 'Pakeha' / 'Lore & Behold'. Images draw reference from fiction to subjective fact, weaving stories punctuated with symbolism, iconography, humour and pathos.
Barr's most recent show titled 'Avian' (2016) explores a zoomorphic relationship with our native birds suggesting a bi-nature effect and spiritual connectedness inherent within the forgotten DNA strands of mankind. This departure from the historical narrative works suggest a deeper reach into the subconscious and self reflection.
Barr's paintings have been shown in public exhibitions - 'Scape' Whakatane Art Museum, 'Tears For Tane's Children' Whangarei Art Museum and 'Mind Games, An Exhibition of Surrealism in Aotearoa' Hastings City Art Gallery. Commissions from Dame Suzie Moncrieff (World of Wearable Arts) and NZ Defence Force Veteran Services commissioned Liam to create a painting commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice where he accompanied 30 veterans and personnel to South Korea. His painting became part of the NZDF art collection.

SOLO:

2016 - Avian: Artis Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2014 - Lore & Behold: Artis Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2011 - Pakeha: John Leech Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2008 - Grand-Land: Warwick Henderson Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2007 - Hei Tiki - Hi Mate: Warwick Henderson Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2003 - Adrift - Journeys To The Other Me: Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle, W.A.

GROUP:

2017 - Our People Our Land, Artis Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2017 - Identification, The Vivian, Matakana, NZ
2017 - Winter Selection, Artis Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2016 - Summer Selection, Artis Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2016 - Imago Mundi Benetton World Art Collection, Treviso, Italy
2016 - Grand Opening, Matthew Namour Galery,Montreal, Canada
2016 - Winter Show, Artis Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2016 - Auckland Art Fair, Artis Gallery Pavillion, Auckland, NZ
2015 - Xmas Exhibition, PG Gallery 192, Christchurch, NZ
2015 - Winter Exhibition, Jonathan Grant Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2014 - Égrégore, The Zenith of Pop Surrealism, Yves Laroche Galerie D'art, Montréal, Canada
2014 - Our People Our Land, Artis Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2014 - Spring Thing, Chambers 241, Chch, NZ
2014 - Easter Show, Artis Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2013 - Auckland Art Fair, Artis Gallery Pavillion, Auckland, NZ
2012 - Xmas Show, Artis Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2012 - BNZ Industry Show, via Artis Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2012 - Arthouse, Ronald MacDonald House Collection initiative, NZAFA, Wellington, NZ
2012 - Women - NZAFA, Wellington, NZ
2010 - Capturing the Colony, Little River Gallery, Banks Peninsula, NZ
2010 - 20 N.Z. Artists, Williams Gallery, Petone, NZ
2009 - Christmas Show, Williams Gallery, Petone, NZ
2009 - Christmas Show, Brooke Gifford Gallery, Christchurch, NZ
2009 - Here they come, there they go, here we are. Little River Gallery, Banks Peninsula, NZ
2009 - Auckland Art Fair, Warwick Henderson Gallery Pavillion, Auckland, NZ
2009 - Autumn Catalogue,Warwick Henderson Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2009 - Real and Unreal - An Exhibition of New Zealand Surrealists, Warwick Henderson Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2008 - Summer Catalogue, Warwick Henderson Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2007 - Tears for Tane’s Children, Whangarei Art Museum, Whangarei, NZ
2007 - Affordable Art Show, Wellington, NZ
2006 - Winter Group Show, Warwick Henderson Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2006 - Emerge Gallery, Wellington, NZ
2006 - Affordable Art Show, Wellington, NZ
2005 - Banks Peninsula Art Auction, Lyttelton, NZ
2005 - Allegory Art Galley, Christchurch, NZ
2004 - Le Strange Gallery, Christchurch, NZ
2004 - Fishers Fine Arts, Christchurch, NZ
1992 - Lyttelton Council Chambers, Lyttelton, NZ.

EDITIONS:

2015 - Orion Powerhouse Gallery, Akaroa, NZ
2011-12 - Gow Langsford Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2010-12 - John Leech Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2010-11 - Salamander Gallery, Christchurch, NZ
2009-13 - Little River Gallery, Banks Peninsula, NZ
2009-13 - Gallery De Novo, Dunedin, NZ
2009-11 - Williams Gallery, Petone, NZ
2008-09 - Kapa Gallery, Queenstown, NZ
2008-09 - Eyeball Kicks, Wellington, NZ
2007-07 - Moko Gallery, Hot water Beach, Whitianga, NZ
2007-11 - Kura Gallery, Taupo, NZ
2007-13 - Ora Gallery, Wellington, NZ
2007-07 - Tamarillo Gallery, Wellington, NZ
2007-07 - Maori Art Auction, Shona McFarlane Gallery, Dunedin, NZ
2006-06 - Emerge Gallery, Wellington, NZ

PUBLIC:

2014 - 'Scape' Whakatane Art Museum, Te Koputu a te whanga a Toi, NZ
2009 - 'Mind Games, An Exhibition of Surrealism in Aotearoa' Hastings City Art Gallery, NZ
2007 - 'Tears For Tane’s Children', Whangarei Art Museum, Whangarei, NZ

COMMISSIONS:

2014 - NZ Defence & Veteran Services
2014 - Dame Suzie Moncrieff - (World of Wearable Arts)

COMPETITIONS/AWARDS:

2015 - Wallace Art Awards, Finalist, Auckland. NZ - Finalist
2012 - Molly Morpeth Canaday Award, Whakatane Community Arts Council, Whakatane, NZ - Finalist
2010 - Adam Portraiture Award, NZ Portrait Gallery, Wellington, NZ - Finalist
2008 - Waikato Painting & Printmaking Award, WSA, Hamilton, NZ - Finalist
2007 - Wallace Art Awards, Auckland. NZ - Finalist
2005 - Martin Hughes Pacific Art Award, MHG. Auckland. NZ

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

2017 - Miroir Magazine - Legend. USA
2016 - Making Sense of a small state, Peter Cleave. Campus Press, NZ
2016 - BloPop Magazine - Vol.2, Luciano Martinez, Spain
2015 - The Encyclopedia of Fernal Affairs, Liba W. Stambollion, France
2015 - Eclectix - interview 58, USA
2013 - Hey Magazine #13, Ankama Editions, France
2012 - Devining the Dream, Liba W. Stambollion, France
2008 - NZ Herald 20/9/08, Raise a glass to the small things, T.J. McNamara, NZ
2008 - Artnews - Spring 08, Excursions into Grand-Land, NZ
2007 - Auckland Herald 9/8/07, Arts editors pick of the week, T.J. McNamara, NZ
2007 - NZ Favourite Artists 2, Denis Robinson, NZ

Tutoring:

2014 - Drawing Intensive, Yr2 Design, Toi Whakaari, Wellington
2015 - Drawing Intensive, Yr2 Design, Toi Whakaari, Wellington
2017 - 5 Day Workshop - The Magic Realism of Portraiture, CEAC - Auckland

TRAINING:

1992 - 1994 Diploma (dist.) Perth Metropolitan College of Art & Design, Perth W.A.