Crossing (Atene)
Mervyn Williams, Artist
This is one of the
sculptures
in our collection.
It was made in
Whanganui Region, New Zealand
in 1988.
See full details
Object Detail
Measurements
Diameter: 940mm
Media
wooden construction
Description
Mervyn Williams was Tylee artist-in-residence in 1988. Williams certainly made a lot of art during that year. The residency came at the perfect time, when he was at a turning point in his personal life, allowing him the breathing space and financial freedom to be able to concentrate on his art making. Like many of the residents, the body of work that resulted from the time at Tylee represented a significant shift in approach: “All my preconceptions about what I might do here . . . were completely tipped upside down when I discovered what it was like to get out of an urban area and actually live and work in a very open space”. Sourcing driftwood from the river mouth and Castlecliff Beach, Williams created a series of wooden constructions – weighty pieces in contrast to his paintings, but still possessing the same formalist concerns. These works embody the physical act of gathering wood, referencing local sites through their titles. The work Crossing – Atene can be read as a literal crossroad but also a turning point in the artist’s career.
- bio label for Tylee 21 exhibition
- bio label for Tylee 21 exhibition
Credit Line
Collection of the Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua Whanganui. Gift from the artist, 1994.
Collection Type
Permanent collection
Acquisition Date
17 May 1994