Peter Peryer

2009-07-17T16:07:00.002+12:00

The Portrait

When I began photographing in the Seventies, I was very interested in taking portraits, and my interest lasted for several years, then it seemed to fizzle out, I lost interest almost entirely. Every now and then however the urge does come over me, the most recent occasion being about 5 years ago when in the space of about three weeks I took four or five portraits. Then the desire, inexplicably, left me again. Now however I am, quite suddenly, feeling a strong need to make some more.

Above is one of the portraits that I made at that time. In this case, Laura, now a fine and successful young woman.

Right now I am thinking about who would I like to choose as subjects. This is not an easy task because I don't often see a face that photographically attracts me, it's nothing personal, it's more me than them. It seems that I am running my own personal Passion Play, and can only take photos of someone for whom I have a role.

A decade or so ago the Dalai Llama visited NZ. The organisers invited me to take a portrait of him. I had to politely decline because I simply didn't have a part for him.

2009-07-16T17:42:00.004+12:00

Killer Klown

About 18 months ago I was fossicking around in an ex rubbish dump in Invercargill. Lying around were some of these plastic soft drink bottles that I have been told were sold at fair grounds. I saved a couple and now have them in my New Plymouth studio awaiting my attention.

Postscript. Yesterday, a couple of days after this posting I received an email from an internet
friend who said that she remembers these drink bottles and that they were spacemen. I believe that she is right. Oh, that's brought about a change in my thinking. I think.

2009-07-08T11:52:00.008+12:00

The Blog Masters

Overthenet (OTN) have just made their 1500th posting. I congratulate Jim Barr & Mary Barr most sincerely. It is a remarkable achievement. Not only does it take discipline and stamina to sustain this output but they are almost a lone voice in the New Zealand art scene. Few others ask such important questions of art establishments and in such a prolonged way, most of us wouldn't dare. Or, if we worked in a university or a civic art gallery, we probably wouldn't be allowed even if we secretly agreed.

I started blogging just a few weeks before they began, if my memory serves me correctly, if not I apologise, and I am only just in reach of 600. My blogging stamina has seriously fallen off in recent months, I'm worn out, and going through a demoralised phase in my life so I particularly appreciate what they do. I haven't taken a new photo for many months although I am trying to view this as an incubation period.

The posting that I have linked to today is one that they have chosen to mark the occasion of their 1500th. That is me on the left in this image taken more than 20 years ago. The photo is from the Barr's extensive archives.

I have observed them building these archives since about 1975 or 76, when Jim was director of the Dowse and I had my first public gallery exhibition there. Don Driver was also exhibiting on that occasion.

PS the photo of the quail I took last year at Henderson House where I was artist-in-residence. I fed the quail and they became so tame that they even came inside, a practise I had to discourage quite promptly as two or three tried to take a shortcut to the outside and killed themselves on the window panes. There is always a member of the group, who stood up on a high perch, acting as a sentinel. This is one of those. Sometimes there were about 30 in the groups. We need more sentinels.

2009-07-06T17:34:00.008+12:00

Whites

One of the greatest photographic influences on me during my early life apart from Life magazine were the photographs that Whites Aviation produced. It seemed that there was a time when every home had one, along with a George Chance.

This print was originally a black and white image but subsequently hand coloured. I bought it a year or so ago in an auction at Art + Object in Auckland. I think for about $300 framed.

According to the label it was taken at Kaikoura. I would say in the 50's or 60's. The photo probably has a negative number that would provide me with the exact date if I was to dig deeper.

2009-06-29T18:53:00.004+12:00

Alexandra

Here is the landscape I lived in for a year before returning to Taranaki. Today, the forecast said that the maximum there was going to be 1 degree Celsius. I'm missing these rocks, and the cold. It was the long dark nights that I struggled with.

2009-06-29T15:31:00.009+12:00

The Almond Tree

Last year, when I was living at Henderson House high above Alexandra in Central Otago, there was an almond tree in the garden. It was the first fruit tree to flower, very early in the spring, almost in late winter but alone and laden. The apricots, plums, and apples were all much later so this tree stood out, alone and laden.

At the time I took one photo of the scene, this one. Very Pictorialist in feel I recognise, but then the Pictorialism movement in photography has never been anathema to me. I'm more of the opinion that great photography has been made in all styles and with all cameras ever since photography was invented and I don't like to miss out.

I've just returned from Auckland where I had ten of this small image printed . This evening I'm wondering if that is going to be enough. Judging the size of an edition is not a straightforward process for me. Frequently I've misjudged and printed too few, at other times, too many.

2009-06-29T11:53:00.006+12:00

The Foreshore

It's been in recent months quite unusual for me to pick up a camera. Just don't seem to be getting the call. It is I hope, an incubation period.

A week or so ago I went for a walk along our fine foreshore here in New Plymouth and found myself hesitating before several views. I was surprised, it seemed like a start.

Rocks and dirt are always tempting subjects, even if just as a way of practising scales so to speak, a way of understanding and building upon what has been done by colleagues before but long gone, of limbering up the fingers and concentrating the mind.

Below are some Kaikoura rocks, from the top right of the South Island, this was taken a year or so ago.

2009-05-05T21:34:00.005+12:00

Kangaroo Paw

My house was built in the 30's mostly of Rimu and Matai and fibrous plaster. It has some structures such as the alcove in this image which probably has a name. The Kangaroo Paw flowers I bought here in New Plymouth.

2009-05-04T19:52:00.003+12:00

Magnetic Attraction

At home here in my studio in New Plymouth I have lots of magnets and iron filings to play with.

2009-05-01T23:37:00.009+12:00

Holy Goldfish

Several years ago, in Bali, I saw these giant goldfish gathered in a pool created by a sacred spring. It seemed to me a remarkable place.
I've clung to this picture, there's something about the motion that speaks to me, calls my name, one could say. Puts its hand up. The swimming draws me in.
____________________________________________________________________________________-_

P.S. A print of this sold at the Auckland Art Fair last night. That was uplifting news.

2009-04-30T23:06:00.005+12:00

Wounded

Cleaning up my picture files over the last few days I have come across photos that I'd forgotten about. This one must be about 4 years old. It's a digital file and somewhere in it will be the precise date and even the time it was taken.

This photo, taken in my garden, still holds my interest so it's important for me to revisit it. I think it was Diane Arbus who said something about the importance of photos that don't quite work, how vital it is to print them up and live with them until you really really understand what the problem is, on a cellular level not just an intellectual one.

2009-04-29T17:50:00.004+12:00

Rose

I've had this Dublin Bay rose growing in a pot outside for several years. It hasn't grown much, its roots need more room but still, every year it produces several perfect blooms. Soon it will have its realease.

Last year, when I was making one of my frequent trips from Central Otago back to my studio in New Plymouth, I took this photo.

2009-04-29T15:42:00.005+12:00

Central

Central Stories, the museum in Alexandra, Central Otago, where I lived for the last year, has, in its collection, this wooden grinder, perhaps it wasn't a grinder at all, perhaps it was for making butter, I'm not sure. However in my imagination, I would like to think that it was for turning wheat into flour in order to make bread.

I photographed it two or three times over a few months but usually from further back.

The handle in the base of the device was fun to turn. It made the wooden section on the left of this image rotate, while simultaneously the base turned in a contrary direction. I found it riveting to watch. I even liked the sound it made.

I'm sorry that I have only this one photo left, but it was the last, and I think, the best, bread or butter!

2009-04-28T19:01:00.005+12:00

Furry

I'm going through all of the photos that I have taken in the last 18 months and having another look at what is there. I'm organising them into folders.

This is a dyed possum fur key ring except that I have removed the metal circle that keys attach to. I've got a small collection of key rings.

2009-04-27T18:31:00.005+12:00

Skoda

A very stylish 1961 Skoda, built in Checkoslovakia and taking part in a vintage car rally here on the weekend.

The engine is basically the same one that was used in the New Zealand built Trekka, a rather ugly vehicle but one that gained some fame recently when Michael Stevenson used it as a centrepiece for his work in the Venice Biennale.

2009-04-27T15:27:00.010+12:00

Fiat Topolino 1938

On the weekend I went to a vintage car rally here
in New Plymouth.
I fell in love with this Fiat Topolino, immediately. It doesn't have a flat surface anywhere, every panel is perfectly curved. It was modern and still looks modern.

Topolino means something like little mouse.

The black 8 cylinder Buick behind it is strong too in a gangsterish way.

The engine is 500cc. The solid looking wheels especially appeal to me.

The rear window opens. No bumpers but a strong line that runs along the top of the doors and down to where a bumper could be, giving a feeling of strength and solidity.

2009-04-26T19:06:00.003+12:00

2009-04-21T13:08:00.005+12:00

European Hare

A couple of weeks ago I took delivery of 10 prints of this image, a portrait of a European Hare. The prints were made in Sydney.

Here is one of the prints at the framer, being prepared for the Auckland Art Fair on the 29th where it will be exhibited on Hamish McKay's stand.

It is my most recent photo, taken about 6 months ago. There haven't been any photos since then, but I'm not worried, it is something to look forward to. After a longish gap there may be a shift.

The photo is, including frame and gst, $4000. Unframed $3750. 3 have gone. Any enquiries phone Hamish 0274368368

2009-04-15T19:48:00.004+12:00

John Reynolds...

....at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery in New Plymouth, a couple of weeks ago.

2009-04-15T17:52:00.006+12:00

The NCEA Best

There is a show touring NZ, recently set up at the Govett-Brewster here in New Plymouth by our national educational authorities who want to instruct teenagers of our country on how to become famous photographers.

Local secondary school students of photography were brought, even by bus, to see these portfolios, the top scoring ones from last year. They were being shown what the look was that the examiners were wanting. The remarkable sameness to the portofolios was, as usual, for they look similar year after year, truly alarming. Clearly it is a house style.

Once, a decade ago at Selwyn College, I tried to teach this approach to photography even though I knew that I would not be able to pass this exam myself. I quit after a year because I was ashamed to be part of such a questionable approach.

2009-03-19T20:15:00.004+13:00

Back at the Studio

I'm back in my New Plymouth studio and trying to put things in order. Tomorrow I have an architect coming to help me make some decisions about opening up the roof. The house has good bones of Rimu and Matai but the old corrugated iron is springing leaks. The water is coming through my fibrous plaster ceilings and I store my photos here so treatment is urgent. As I'm going to put on a new roof it is a good time to think about opening it up to the light. And insulating.

2009-03-18T13:42:00.007+13:00

BBQ

A couple of evenings ago I was treated to a BBQ in Freemans Bay in Auckland. The meal, was in restaurant review terms, 10 out of 10. Southland meat and Japanese skills. (thank you Michiko.)

I'm starting to loosen up with photographing, the picture above is a good sign.

2009-03-17T23:39:00.003+13:00

Alexandra

This is one of the last photos that I took before I left the Henderson House residency in Alexandra, Central Otago.

2009-03-17T20:37:00.008+13:00

Don Driver at the Tauranga Art Gallery

Last Friday I was in Tauranga. Drove up there from New Plymouth, leaving at 11.30 am and arriving at a motel over the road from the Tauranga Art Gallery just before 5 and well in time for the opening. I drove up to Te Kuiti, turned right, looped over the north side of Rotorua. Tauranga, I am told, now has a larger population than Dunedin.

Don Driver was having a show in this new building. He lives in New Plymouth too but unfortunately was not well enough to attend the event.

There was also a selection of works from the BNZ art collection. Billy Apple spoke about the history of how this collection came about.

I liked the gallery. I saw it last when it was a handsome but empty BNZ building and the conversion had not yet begun. Many walls feel domestic in scale, and I particularly liked that and the donkey brown coloured walls too. The Drivers looked very relaxed on them I thought. It's an Aalto colour but I don't know the exact name although Richard Arlidge the director did, during the evening tell me but I've forgotten it I'm sorry. It's similar to the much loved colour Diesel. Much loved in New Plymouth at least.

Ansel Adams used Forest Green and a Donkey Brown for the walls he exhibited on. I don't think that photography is particularly enhanced by the white wall.

It was an excellent evening.

I'm glad that I was there.

2009-03-12T11:09:00.006+13:00

Back in the Studio

For more than a year I have been running two studios, my main one here in New Plymouth and a satellite one in Alexandra in Central Otago. The South Island one came about as the result of having a residency there but it has now ended. Before the year in Alexandra I was 4 months in Invercargill so it has been a fair while.

In hindsight I underestimated just how difficult this was going to be, especially as I had a book being produced in Auckland in the middle of the year. Strategically this was less than ideal.

Exacerbating the problem was that while in Invercargill I made the decision to switch from using a PC to using a Mac. Right now here in New Plymouth, they are both set up side by side awaiting the arrival of a technician who will extract everything of value to me from the hard drive of the PC and transfer it to the Mac. It has been a change well worth making, but again I might have underestimated just what there was to learn and to choose a time when I had a book underway was probably not a great idea!

Now I look forward to regaining my strength. At present I am having difficulty seeing new photos, it's been like that for about 3 months but there is no panic, it is a time of removing a lot of overburden to put it in mining terms.