Nigel Brown
Encyclopedia
Nigel Roderick Brown ONZM (born 1949 in Invercargill
) is a New Zealand
painter living in coastal Southland whose work is mainly about the history of New Zealand and its natives. As a young boy he spent much of his life growing up in a packing shed (wool shed or fruit packing shed - rural) in Tauranga
. This may have influenced his strong symbolism of iconic New Zealand items (Weetbix,Pavlova, Black singlet, muscly NZ man).
Brown graduated from the University of Auckland Elam School of Fine Arts
in 1971 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. While attending Elam Art School, he was inspired by expressionism
, taught by Garth Tapper and influenced by painter Colin McCahon
whom he studied under for three years. Mâori artist Fred Graham also inspired Brown with tales of Mâori legends.
Brown has been a full time artist since 1972. He has exhibited extensively in public and private galleries throughout New Zealand and has had several touring exhibitions. Brown's paintings use a lot of brown and black so that they look natural. Words are often incorporated into the border of Browns works, reinforcing the idea that paintings are a form of social dialogue. Brown describes himself as an expressive realist or symbolic expressionist. He admires Edvard Munch
(1863–1944) and German Expressionism, the influence of which is also evident in this work. Brown's Pacific locality is also very important to him and he draws inspiration from Mâori, Pacific Island and Aboriginal art as well as European exploration and settlement of the area.
In the 1980s, influenced by Philip Clairmont, he began experimenting with the woodcut printmaking process, appreciating the simplicity and strength of the medium. He continues to experiment with printmaking techniques.
Brown has also undertaken two significant stained glass window designs – St Mary’s Catholic Church, Auckland (1991) and Auckland Cathedral, Parnell (1998). In 1998 he travelled to Antarctica as the first Arts Fellow in the “Artist to Antarctica “program.
Brown was awarded the Order of NZ Merit for Services to painting and printmaking in 2004 and in 2005 Brown was awarded a three week residency in Russia hosted by NZ’s then ambassador in Moscow.
Brown's work uses a lot of symbol
ism. His axeman, who wears a black singlet, represents colonisers. His dog represents a strong sense of self. He uses kites and rockets to represent deep thoughts and high spirituality
. The ark to represent salvation and hope.
His themes are abstraction
, symbolism and expressionism.
Invercargill
Invercargill is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. It lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff,...
) is a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
painter living in coastal Southland whose work is mainly about the history of New Zealand and its natives. As a young boy he spent much of his life growing up in a packing shed (wool shed or fruit packing shed - rural) in Tauranga
Tauranga
Tauranga is the most populous city in the Bay of Plenty region, in the North Island of New Zealand.It was settled by Europeans in the early 19th century and was constituted as a city in 1963...
. This may have influenced his strong symbolism of iconic New Zealand items (Weetbix,Pavlova, Black singlet, muscly NZ man).
Brown graduated from the University of Auckland Elam School of Fine Arts
Elam School of Fine Arts
The Elam School of Fine Arts, founded in 1890 by John Edward Elam is a part of Auckland University. Students study degrees in fine art with an emphasis on a multidisciplinary approach.-History:...
in 1971 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. While attending Elam Art School, he was inspired by expressionism
Expressionism
Expressionism was a modernist movement, initially in poetry and painting, originating in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century. Its typical trait is to present the world solely from a subjective perspective, distorting it radically for emotional effect in order to evoke moods or ideas...
, taught by Garth Tapper and influenced by painter Colin McCahon
Colin McCahon
Colin John McCahon was a prominent New Zealand artist. During his life he also worked in art galleries and as a university lecturer...
whom he studied under for three years. Mâori artist Fred Graham also inspired Brown with tales of Mâori legends.
Brown has been a full time artist since 1972. He has exhibited extensively in public and private galleries throughout New Zealand and has had several touring exhibitions. Brown's paintings use a lot of brown and black so that they look natural. Words are often incorporated into the border of Browns works, reinforcing the idea that paintings are a form of social dialogue. Brown describes himself as an expressive realist or symbolic expressionist. He admires Edvard Munch
Edvard Munch
Edvard Munch was a Norwegian Symbolist painter, printmaker and an important forerunner of expressionist art. His best-known composition, The Scream, is part of a series The Frieze of Life, in which Munch explored the themes of love, fear, death, melancholia, and anxiety.- Childhood :Edvard Munch...
(1863–1944) and German Expressionism, the influence of which is also evident in this work. Brown's Pacific locality is also very important to him and he draws inspiration from Mâori, Pacific Island and Aboriginal art as well as European exploration and settlement of the area.
In the 1980s, influenced by Philip Clairmont, he began experimenting with the woodcut printmaking process, appreciating the simplicity and strength of the medium. He continues to experiment with printmaking techniques.
Brown has also undertaken two significant stained glass window designs – St Mary’s Catholic Church, Auckland (1991) and Auckland Cathedral, Parnell (1998). In 1998 he travelled to Antarctica as the first Arts Fellow in the “Artist to Antarctica “program.
Brown was awarded the Order of NZ Merit for Services to painting and printmaking in 2004 and in 2005 Brown was awarded a three week residency in Russia hosted by NZ’s then ambassador in Moscow.
Brown's work uses a lot of symbol
Symbol
A symbol is something which represents an idea, a physical entity or a process but is distinct from it. The purpose of a symbol is to communicate meaning. For example, a red octagon may be a symbol for "STOP". On a map, a picture of a tent might represent a campsite. Numerals are symbols for...
ism. His axeman, who wears a black singlet, represents colonisers. His dog represents a strong sense of self. He uses kites and rockets to represent deep thoughts and high spirituality
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
. The ark to represent salvation and hope.
His themes are abstraction
Abstraction
Abstraction is a process by which higher concepts are derived from the usage and classification of literal concepts, first principles, or other methods....
, symbolism and expressionism.
External links
- Interview with Nigel Brown as conducted by Denys Trussell for the Cultural Icons project. Audio and video.
- Art New Zealand: Nigel Brown - Gains & Losses (Spring 1983)
- Art New Zealand: Nigel Brown - Will to Meaning: A Painter's Language in the Fabric of History (Spring 2007)