A colleague of mine told me that he was recently invited to a private  showing and presentation by one of New Zealnd’s most well known, internationally prominant and successful living artists – Max Gimblett.  It’s fair to say that I was green with envy to learn that both he and his wife had heard Max speak and also had the opportunity to talk one on one to him in a small, intimate and decadently expensive gallery in Wellington. 

For those who don’t know quite how amazing he is Max Gimblett has been at the forefront of New Zealand painting for over two decades.   His work is influenced by a number of sources including Abstract Expressionism, Modernism, Eastern and Western spiritual beliefs, Jungian psychology and ancient cultures.  With all of this inspiration to draw upon it’s no wonder that the man is hugely well known and his work is so loved by the art world – especially by private collectors here in NZ.  My friend tells me that Max said he owed much of his success to a large core of investors and art lovers in NZ who have continued to support him as he has painted and shown his work througout the world.

The thing that I love about Max’s work (and that thing that drives the detractors and criticism) is the beautiful yet explosive simplicity seen in much of his work.  I saw a documentary on him once where he was in his beautiful studio in New York city (high ceilings, expanses of white painted walls, huge glass windows, young ‘wanna-be artists’ interns running around – you know…the absolute dream studio setting) and he stood in front of a huge blank canvas…he stomped his feet as if he were a matador teasing a bull with a red cape…he snorted and snuffled and then literally threw paint off the end of a large chunky brush.  There was much grunting and snorting and then a minute later – da daaaaaa!! An exquistite ‘masterpiece’.  This is his terminology for his ‘good’ work. 

I would have given anything to have been in that private gallery in Wellington last week so see the man – to breathe in his words and inspiration.

Also – one last thing -  I haven’t been around much recently.  My web site was getting attacked by so much spam that I needed to shut up shop for a bit.  But now – I’m back.

K