Subtle messages from hands-on artist Graham Hall

Artist Graham Hall with two woodcuts from his Handscape exhibition which is showing at Space Gallery. Graham teaches Art at Whanganui High School. 
PHOTO/Stuart Munro

Whanganui artist and teacher Graham Hall's latest exhibition, Handscapes, at Space Gallery is an exploration of the relationships between humans and physical environments.

Each print in the series of woodcuts features a human hand and a familiar local landscape.

A Bird in the Hand depicts two huia birds perched on an outstretched hand.

" There were multitudes of huia in this region once," says the artist. "They are a symbol of things lost from the landscape."

Heavy Hand features a fist covered with an industrial glove and a landscape showing fencing and an unpaved road leading round a bend.

"There's nothing wrong with fencing off land but it's about the care that's needed," says Hall.

The artist says he started the series in 2015 but most of the works were completed this year.

"While there are several natural controls and events, we act as the dominant force in many of the earth's physical and biological systems. The human relationship with the landscape is one of constant change."

The artist says the series is partly inspired by a quote from late musician and author Leonard Cohen.

"To every people the land is given on condition. Perceived or not, there is a covenant, beyond the constitution, beyond sovereign guarantee, beyond the nation's sweetest dreams of itself."

Handscapes by Graham Hall is open for viewing at Space Studio and Gallery, 64 Taupo Quay until Friday, July 28. Open Tuesday to Thursday 9am-1pm. Friday and Saturday 9am-1pm. Closed Sunday and Monday.

By Liz Wylie
Wanganui Chronicle 21/7/17