STUD FLIGHT

A retrospective of new work by Mike Hewson: 2010 - 2013

The oxymoronic, and frankly cheeky, nature of the exhibition's subtitle - a retrospective of new work - is not lost on anyone. There are, however, a number of factors at work which interrogate and defuse this strange proposition. The first of these is Hewson’s career trajectory which has taken him from the studio, into public, and then into the gallery. Note the order of the second and third parts of the equation, a reversal of the usual lineage of an emerging artist. Secondly, Hewson's practice is characterised by prolific output across extremely varied media. And most of this output, or at least the work that has garnered the most attention, has been produced outside of, and without a studio. Finally, these public art projects are often of grand scale and evidence incredible ambition.

This retrospective then, is an opportunity to appraise the work Hewson has created over the last three years, but reimagined and recreated inside the gallery, as if the artist had a second chance to experiment. Usually celebratory occasions, the element of self-reflectivity is subordinated by a more nostalgic sense of self-reflection in most retrospectives. Seldom is the retrospective employed in a manner that aids the artist’s continuing development.

The exhibition is an analysis of an artist whose research is praxis; it is a study of changing contexts, disciplines, and situations. Riffing off Hewson's arguably most high profile project on the facade of the Museum of Contemporary Art with Agatha Gothe-Snape, this exhibition is a chance to see if his practice does hold up.

J Hanton, Director at Blue Oyster Art Project Space

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Solo exhibition at the Blue Oyster Art Project Space, Dunedin, NZ

26 November - 20 December 2013.

Exhibition publication