FOLDED LANDSCAPES
BEN YOUNG & KAYE MCGARVA
SEPTEMBER 12-28
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Black Door Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of new works by Ben Young (sculptor) and Kaye McGarva (painter) titled Folded Landscapes.
Humans possess a deep, intrinsic love for nature, finding solace and inspiration in its beauty. We seek out moments of stillness in the wild- where the water meets the shore or the contours of a vast landscape can stir something profound within us. This connection to nature is a powerful source of creativity. Yet, this reverence is intertwined with a paradoxical impulse: the desire to shape and alter the natural world. We build structures that rise against the sky, carve paths through forests, and harness rivers to fuel our creations. In doing so, we both enrich and disrupt the delicate balance of the world around us. Our relationship with nature is one of love, re-creation and transformation—a dance between preserving its untouched beauty and inscribing our mark upon it. This tension between admiration and alteration is at the heart of this new exhibition by Ben Young and Kaye McGarva Folded Landscapes. Both artists in this exhibition start with the idea of landscape, but each, through their distinct style and medium, folds new perspectives into the subject. Embedded within these compelling and technically refined works are layered narratives and intriguing questions about the human connection to nature. |
EXHIBITION CATALOGUE
Ben Young
Twin Tides Laminated float glass and cast concrete Sculpture Dimensions: 420 x 230 x 230mm 2024 |
Ben Young
Ocean Echo Laminated float glass, cast concrete and stainless steel Sculpture Dimensions: 650 x 510 x 100mm 2024 |
Ben Young
In Flux Laminated float glass, cast concrete and stainless steel Sculpture Dimensions: 320 x 530 x 100mm 2024 |
Ben Young
Sea Stacks Laminated float glass, cast concrete and stainless steel Sculpture Dimensions: 330 x 730 x 100mm 2024 |
Ben Young
Clarity Laminated float glass, cast concrete and stainless steel Sculpture Dimensions: 720 x 660 x 100mm 2024 |
Ben Young
Intersection Laminated float glass, cast concrete and stainless steel Sculpture Dimensions: 540 x 730 x 100mm 2024 |
Ben Young
Ocean's Edge Laminated float glass and cast concrete Sculpture Dimensions: 350 x 300 x 300mm 2024 |
Ben Young
Tidal Poise Laminated float glass and cast concrete Sculpture Dimensions: 530 x 180 x 180mm 2024 |
Ben Young
Suspended Sea Laminated float glass, cast concrete and stainless steel Sculpture Dimensions: 450 x 325 x 100mm 2024 |
Ben Young
Captured Current Laminated float glass, cast concrete and stainless steel Sculpture Dimensions: 500 x 670 x 100mm 2024 |
Ben Young
Landfall
Laminated Float Glass, Cast Concrete, Stainless Steel and Cast Bronze
Hanging sculpture
Sculpture Dimensions: 800mm diameter
2024
Landfall
Laminated Float Glass, Cast Concrete, Stainless Steel and Cast Bronze
Hanging sculpture
Sculpture Dimensions: 800mm diameter
2024
Kaye McGarva
Time + Space Acrylic on Canvas, Framed 140cm x 140cm 2024 |
Kaye McGarva
Frozen in Time Acrylic on Canvas, Framed 140cm x 140cm 2024 |
Kaye McGarva
Time Compressed Acrylic on Canvas, Framed 140cm x 140cm 2024 |
Kaye McGarva
Folded Land Acrylic on Canvas, Framed 140cm x 140cm 2024 |
Kaye McGarva
Time Receding Acrylic on Canvas, Framed (Aluminium) 169cm x 110cm 2024 |
Kaye McGarva
The Gift Acrylic on Canvas, Framed (Aluminium) 120cm x 93cm 2024 |
Kaye McGarva
Chill Factor Acrylic on Canvas, Framed (Aluminium) 140cm x 93cm 2024 |
Kaye McGarva
Blue Blue Acrylic on Canvas, Framed (Aluminium) 140cm x 93cm 2024 |
Kaye McGarva
Transition - Verdigris Acrylic on Canvas, Framed (Aluminium) 140cm x 93cm 2024 |
Kaye McGarva
Oyster Light Acrylic on Canvas, Framed (Aluminium) 140cm x 93cm 2024 |
Email: [email protected] | Phone: +6493684554 | Whats App Gallery | +64210738375
Additional artwork information and imagery available. Contact the gallery for additional images of each artwork.
Follow us @black_door_gallery_ for social updates
Additional artwork information and imagery available. Contact the gallery for additional images of each artwork.
Follow us @black_door_gallery_ for social updates
ARTISTS IN STUDIO
Ben Young in Studio- [Image Credit] Jess Lowcher
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Kaye McGarva in Studio- [Image Credit] Charlotte Anderson
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EXHIBITION TEXT
EXTENDED TEXT
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“Water, a recurring subject for me, with its ceaseless journey, serves as the central subject... As water flows through landscapes, carves valleys, and traverses ecosystems, it embodies nature's tenacity, always seeking balance. Just as water finds its level in the most fragile of spaces, my work strive to explicate the moments when the balance between man and nature is at its most delicate.”- Ben Young
Our eyes are not passive observers, but active participants in creating reality. Through the subtle play of light and shadow in these shadowy creases, I invite the viewer to look beyond the surface, to engage deeply, and to discover new dimensions of perception. My work challenges the boundaries between what is seen and what is imagined, encouraging us all to see the world with new eyes." - Kaye McGarva
_____________
Black Door Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of new works by Ben Young (sculptor) and Kaye McGarva (painter) titled Folded Landscapes.
Humans possess a deep, intrinsic love for nature, finding solace and inspiration in its beauty. We seek out moments of stillness in the wild- where the water meets the shore or the contours of a vast landscape stir something profound within us.
This connection to nature is a powerful source of creativity. Yet, this reverence is intertwined with a paradoxical impulse: the desire to shape and alter the natural world.
We build structures that rise against the sky, carve paths through forests, and harness rivers to fuel our creations. In doing so, we both enrich and disrupt the delicate balance of the world around us. Our relationship with nature is one of love, re-creation and transformation—a dance between preserving its untouched beauty and inscribing our mark upon it.
This tension between admiration and alteration is at the heart of this new exhibition by Ben Young and Kaye McGarva Folded Landscapes.
Both artists in this exhibition start with the idea of landscape, but each, through their distinct style and medium, folds new perspectives into the subject. Embedded within these compelling and technically refined works are layered narratives and intriguing questions about the human connection to nature.
_____________
Ben Young | Sculpting the Fragile Balance of Nature
In this body of work, Ben Young expands his established practice of transforming industrial materials like glass, concrete, and steel into evocative representations of landscapes. The exhibition title, Folded Landscapes, alludes to the intricate layers of earth and water that Young meticulously integrates into his sculptures. This concept of "folding" serves as both a visual motif and a metaphor for the natural forces that shape our world—much like the movement of tectonic plates or the flow of water that carves valleys, cliffs, and coastlines. Young’s use of glass, cut and arranged with precision, mimics undulating waves and the depths of the sea, creating a sense of movement and depth that draws the viewer to explore the spaces within.
Folded Landscapes also introduces new sculptural forms. Young plays with the tension between stability and instability. Some sculptures aim to defy gravity, suspended in mid-air, while others are poised on the edge of collapse, inviting the viewer to consider the fine line between order and chaos in the natural world. This tension reflects the precarious state of nature itself—where the impacts of human activity have pushed many ecosystems to the brink.
Ben Young's art is deeply personal yet universally resonant. Influenced by his time spent in nature—particularly the ocean—his work reflects both his admiration for the environment and his concern for its preservation. Through Folded Landscapes, Young continues to explore the relationship between humanity and the natural world, reminding us to reconnect with the landscapes that sustain us.
_____________
Kaye McGarva | Reconsidering the Act of Seeing
In parallel, Kaye McGarva's paintings invite us to reconsider the very act of seeing. Her work is an exploration of the idea that our eyes are not passive observers of reality but active participants in its creation. Through her meticulously crafted Crease Paintings, McGarva blurs the boundaries between abstraction and representation, 2D and 3D, and photography and painting. These predominantly abstract works suggest hints of landscape emerging from gradations of light and dark, encouraging viewers to engage deeply with their own perceptions.
Time Compressed, appears as if looking at a rock face up close, whereas Frozen in Time, evokes a distant feel, as if viewing a snowy landscape from above. Placing these works side by side creates an intriguing push and pull energy. In Time Receding, an isosceles trapezoid-shaped painting, McGarva graduates the tone from light to dark, creating the illusion that the wall is tilted at an angle, challenging perception to the point where one might experience a physical sensation. By playing with light and shadow, McGarva creates trompe-l’oeil effects that provoke a physical sensation of unease, a phenomenon known as disequilibrium, reminding us that perception is a dynamic process influenced by past experiences and expectations.
For McGarva, scale, shape, and color are crucial in affecting perception. Moving into a new studio allowed her to work on a larger scale, resulting in the creation of large square monochrome paintings. Introducing colour further alters perception, as colours often conjure particular feelings or memories.
McGarva’s approach is deeply rooted in philosophical inquiries into perception, drawing on theories that suggest that our brains take a "best guess" approach to interpreting sensory data. Her paintings encourage us to slow down, question what we see, and perhaps, see the world with new eyes.
_____________
A Meditation on Nature and Perception
Together, Ben Young and Kaye McGarva offer a meditation on the fragile balance of nature and our role within it. The act of folding is a distinctly human action—a way of simplifying and organising our world. Through Folded Landscapes, both artists invite us to reflect on how we seek to control, redefine, celebrate, and mimic nature in our lives.
As you move through the gallery, allow yourself to be drawn into the subtle shifts in perspective that these works offer.
“Water, a recurring subject for me, with its ceaseless journey, serves as the central subject... As water flows through landscapes, carves valleys, and traverses ecosystems, it embodies nature's tenacity, always seeking balance. Just as water finds its level in the most fragile of spaces, my work strive to explicate the moments when the balance between man and nature is at its most delicate.”- Ben Young
Our eyes are not passive observers, but active participants in creating reality. Through the subtle play of light and shadow in these shadowy creases, I invite the viewer to look beyond the surface, to engage deeply, and to discover new dimensions of perception. My work challenges the boundaries between what is seen and what is imagined, encouraging us all to see the world with new eyes." - Kaye McGarva
_____________
Black Door Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of new works by Ben Young (sculptor) and Kaye McGarva (painter) titled Folded Landscapes.
Humans possess a deep, intrinsic love for nature, finding solace and inspiration in its beauty. We seek out moments of stillness in the wild- where the water meets the shore or the contours of a vast landscape stir something profound within us.
This connection to nature is a powerful source of creativity. Yet, this reverence is intertwined with a paradoxical impulse: the desire to shape and alter the natural world.
We build structures that rise against the sky, carve paths through forests, and harness rivers to fuel our creations. In doing so, we both enrich and disrupt the delicate balance of the world around us. Our relationship with nature is one of love, re-creation and transformation—a dance between preserving its untouched beauty and inscribing our mark upon it.
This tension between admiration and alteration is at the heart of this new exhibition by Ben Young and Kaye McGarva Folded Landscapes.
Both artists in this exhibition start with the idea of landscape, but each, through their distinct style and medium, folds new perspectives into the subject. Embedded within these compelling and technically refined works are layered narratives and intriguing questions about the human connection to nature.
_____________
Ben Young | Sculpting the Fragile Balance of Nature
In this body of work, Ben Young expands his established practice of transforming industrial materials like glass, concrete, and steel into evocative representations of landscapes. The exhibition title, Folded Landscapes, alludes to the intricate layers of earth and water that Young meticulously integrates into his sculptures. This concept of "folding" serves as both a visual motif and a metaphor for the natural forces that shape our world—much like the movement of tectonic plates or the flow of water that carves valleys, cliffs, and coastlines. Young’s use of glass, cut and arranged with precision, mimics undulating waves and the depths of the sea, creating a sense of movement and depth that draws the viewer to explore the spaces within.
Folded Landscapes also introduces new sculptural forms. Young plays with the tension between stability and instability. Some sculptures aim to defy gravity, suspended in mid-air, while others are poised on the edge of collapse, inviting the viewer to consider the fine line between order and chaos in the natural world. This tension reflects the precarious state of nature itself—where the impacts of human activity have pushed many ecosystems to the brink.
Ben Young's art is deeply personal yet universally resonant. Influenced by his time spent in nature—particularly the ocean—his work reflects both his admiration for the environment and his concern for its preservation. Through Folded Landscapes, Young continues to explore the relationship between humanity and the natural world, reminding us to reconnect with the landscapes that sustain us.
_____________
Kaye McGarva | Reconsidering the Act of Seeing
In parallel, Kaye McGarva's paintings invite us to reconsider the very act of seeing. Her work is an exploration of the idea that our eyes are not passive observers of reality but active participants in its creation. Through her meticulously crafted Crease Paintings, McGarva blurs the boundaries between abstraction and representation, 2D and 3D, and photography and painting. These predominantly abstract works suggest hints of landscape emerging from gradations of light and dark, encouraging viewers to engage deeply with their own perceptions.
Time Compressed, appears as if looking at a rock face up close, whereas Frozen in Time, evokes a distant feel, as if viewing a snowy landscape from above. Placing these works side by side creates an intriguing push and pull energy. In Time Receding, an isosceles trapezoid-shaped painting, McGarva graduates the tone from light to dark, creating the illusion that the wall is tilted at an angle, challenging perception to the point where one might experience a physical sensation. By playing with light and shadow, McGarva creates trompe-l’oeil effects that provoke a physical sensation of unease, a phenomenon known as disequilibrium, reminding us that perception is a dynamic process influenced by past experiences and expectations.
For McGarva, scale, shape, and color are crucial in affecting perception. Moving into a new studio allowed her to work on a larger scale, resulting in the creation of large square monochrome paintings. Introducing colour further alters perception, as colours often conjure particular feelings or memories.
McGarva’s approach is deeply rooted in philosophical inquiries into perception, drawing on theories that suggest that our brains take a "best guess" approach to interpreting sensory data. Her paintings encourage us to slow down, question what we see, and perhaps, see the world with new eyes.
_____________
A Meditation on Nature and Perception
Together, Ben Young and Kaye McGarva offer a meditation on the fragile balance of nature and our role within it. The act of folding is a distinctly human action—a way of simplifying and organising our world. Through Folded Landscapes, both artists invite us to reflect on how we seek to control, redefine, celebrate, and mimic nature in our lives.
As you move through the gallery, allow yourself to be drawn into the subtle shifts in perspective that these works offer.