Michelle McIver

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I grew up in rural Otago, in the south of New Zealand. From my earliest days I drew, and continued to draw prolifically throughout my school years. As a natural progression, I initially studied Fine Art at the Otago School of Art. This was followed by a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Otago, majoring in Anthropology, Education and then Japanese.

Five years spent living and working in rural Japan piqued my interest in the Japanese aesthetic. When not working in the classroom, I explored both pottery and printmaking, and developed an appreciation of the traditional wabi-sabi philosophy of design. Some of wabi-sabi’s aesthetics include acceptance of the imperfect, simplicity, economy, and finding beauty in the simple and mundane. I have then applied these concepts to my practice of printmaking and then painting.

My paintings can at times have a printerly aesthetic to them. I deconstruct an image into simpler shapes and colours, mask up areas which I want to work on, and then apply paint and glazes which overlay each other. In the fashion of a print which has imperfect registration, I allow the viewer a sneak-peek at the different layers of colours which can sometimes be seen at the sides and edges of the painting.

Taking reference from New Zealand’s dramatic geographical features, I paint in a simplified, semi-abstract manner. My paintings can in places be gestural and energetic, but can also be butted up against areas of flatness and calm.