States of Carbon group exhibition- 2024

States of Carbon

Ponsonby Central, Pop-Up Space

Monday 11 – Sunday 17 March 2024

10 am – 6:30 pm

Art Exhibition Opening Celebrations

Wednesday 13 March, 5:30 pm onwards

More details

States of Carbon exhibition bryonymatthewartist

Explore Bryony Matthew’s work exhibited at the States of Carbon Exhibition.

A group art exhibition, hosted by Bryony Matthew, Emelia Clarke and Shannon Courtenay.

A trio of artists inspired by the rivers in southern Te Wai Pounamu to the waters of the Hauraki Gulf and northern Te lka a Maui, with the wild flora and fauna in between water-etched layers of strata, accompanied by a botanical narrative, connected through the exploration of states of carbon.

Discover our inspiration:

Bryony Matthew

“Painting is my internal navigation. These works are informed, and abstracted from my daily art making and journaling while travelling through the Hauraki Gulf, and coastal NZ as far North as Mangonui Harbour during 20 years of summers. I draw from both measured sources in the form of charts, and the movement and stillness of land, sea and sky that I experience. Intuitive mapping, and gestural mark-making are explored in transparent and solid layers. Contour is at times carved into the paint.”

– Bryony @bryonymatthewartist

Emelia Clarke

“Last year, I embarked on a journey to reimagine my aesthetic by exploring a new medium: oil paint. My latest original collection delves into my childhood memories of running around my grandmother’s garden. This involved studying dancing wildflowers and the organic shapes they create as they sway in the wind. I then transitioned to carefully curated still-life floral vase studies using the same flowers I found in my grandmother’s garden. I have experimented with vivid pigments and colour combinations that evoke feelings of childlike joy in me.”

– Emelia @emelia.alice.studio

Shannon Courtenay

“In this series, I am interested in reflecting the transformative forces of water and lichen. I begin by walking down to the Cardrona River and carrying a rock back to my studio, where I make a mold to create ceramic copies. I then apply a glaze to match the natural color of the rock, and lately, I have been trying to mimic lichen with crawling glazes. The original rocks are returned to where they were found in the river to continue the natural process of change and erosion, while the ceramic versions will remain a reflection of the river as it is today.”

– Shannon @shannoncourtenayartist

Thanks to our sponsors:

State of Carbon sponsors
State of Carbon sponsors