We are proud to present an exhibition of works on paper by Alberto Garcia-Alvarez. One of the works selected dates from as early as 1963 and was created in California, ten years before he moved to New Zealand to teach at Auckland University. The others were created during the 1980s and ’90s.

“Since 1948” – Alberto writes – “I have been using brown packing paper in different ways for my paintings and preliminary cartoons for my frescos and mosaic murals.
On my arrival in NZ in 1973, and after many tests of the packaging papers available, I found the quality that I needed and bought three rolls – which I have been using to the present day.
It is a strong material, stable in tension and resists deterioration through the years. Its most important quality for me is its immediate availability without needing a stretcher or undercoating – though a stretcher or structure can be added behind the painting if needed.”

“The paintings in this show are representative of work made during the last fifty years and should not be expected to follow a process of variations, evolution or improvement through time.

They are spontaneous actions obeying the impulse of the moment.
They do not refer to anything or follow any preliminary drawing or idea.
Each is a moment of my life; this moment or that moment years ago, and they show who I am, what I feel and what I know of myself.
They may look incoherent, unrelated, capricious, poorly finished and irrelevant … unless, of course, you know me, my ways of contemplating life and making things out of it. 

Each painting is a view of my inner being at one time in my life.
Up to a point it has no reference to mental or aesthetic considerations.
A painting is a product of nature; personal nature, and as such offers to the viewer a view; a way among others to keep on finding the beauty of life with its aromas as well as its darkness; its contradictions as well as its exuberances of colour and harmonies.

We all have things in common and together we make culture.

I hope some of my paintings contribute a little to those moments that make us feel something special; maybe just to smile.”

…

SPECIAL EVENT
We are producing an illustrated Catalogue for the exhibition ‘Nineties’ and will launch it at the gallery on Saturday August 7th at 11am
Please join us, along with Alberto, family, and friends for coffee and refreshments!

Photography by Kallan MacLeod