B.

Although Matt Pine has a well-established reputation as a sculptor in the North Island, his work is not widely known in the South of his homeland. To correct this neglect Matt has been invited to exhibit in this Gallery, September 10 to 29 – works completed during his year as holder of the distinguished 'Frances Hodgkins Fellowship' at the University of Otago. Not only will this exhibition be his first major show in the South Island but will also mark the first exhibit of sculptural works in the Botanic Gardens, adjacent to the Gallery. Four works will be constructed on the Archery Lawn, one at the entrance to the Gallery, and a sixth on the rise of ground to the left of the entrance to the Archery Lawn. The location of these works will present a challenging contrast to the six installed in the Gallery complete with an audio-visual display of earlier works and sources relating to the actual exhibits.

Sculpture, possibly more than any other art form, has in recent years, undergone radical changes. Traditional materials of bronze on plinths, have been laid aside in favour of a wide range of mass produced materials – plastics, aluminium and electronic equipment, which realise intentions and realities of the artist's environment also.

The sculpture of Matt Pine is consistent with these developments and presents us with challenging means by which to further understand our world, the artists and ourselves.

Having completed studies at the Universities of Canterbury and Auckland, Matt Pine studied and exhibited widely in London. He has travelled and worked widely in Europe, Eastern Europe, USSR, Africa, North America and the Far East.

('Matt Pine', Bulletin, No.5, September/October 1979, p.3)