John Fields - Forty Years Ago Today
Takes Place:Wednesday, 12th November '08
In association with David Langman of Gallerie Langman, Photospace gallery presents a collection of 38 vintage prints by John Fields. John is travelling from Queensland to attend the preview of this exhibition.
The works are hand-printed black & white silver-gelatin photographs from the period 1969-1975. By capturing images on large format film, the full range of tone and detail has been recorded. But, far from being a mechanical, technical process, Fields' photographs show an intensity of vision and an artist's recognition of moments and situations that resonate beyond the time they existed in.
John Fields' work really is unique, showing a consistent and personal vision, coming from a time when Modernist photography was just taking hold in New Zealand. His work is pioneering, and shows a thorough commitment to the fine print, even when grabbing a shot documentary-style.
Fields was among the first the New Zealand recipient of a Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council grant for photography, in 1975, of the goldfield town of Thames, New Zealand. In 1971 a NZ record for photography was set when $100 was paid for one of his photographs. Aside from regular exhibitions in Auckland with PhotoForum, his work was exhibited in the most important exhibition of NZ photography at the time, The Active Eye: Contemporary New Zealand Photography, (Manawatu Art Gallery) which toured to 12 venues throughout NZ from 1975 to 1976. Galerie Langman showed his work in 1998; many works entering into Te Papa's collection at that time, as well as Sarjeant Gallery Wanganui. Te Papa further bolstered its holdings of his work with the acquisition of 12 additional photographs in 2006.
Fields was both highly regarded and influential during the time his work flourished in New Zealand between 1966-1976. His photographs are used by the University of Auckland Elam School of Fine Arts to instruct students in photography. These vintage photographs, although made between 33-40 years ago are very fresh due to the exceptionally high standards that Fields employed.
His work is held in private collections throughout New Zealand, Australia and USA; the principal holdings are in the Auckland Art Gallery (the plates from Victorian Auckland, 140 works) and Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (around 25 works) and Sarjeant Gallery, Wanganui.
12th November-2nd December 2008
Opening: Tuesday 11th November, 5.30-7.30PM
Photospace gallery, 1/37 Courtenay Place, Wellington, New Zealand. http://www.photospacegallery.com
Gallery Hours: 10-4:30 Mon-Fri, 11-3 Sat, closed Sun., hols
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