Oliver Cain - Let's Start Again

Northart is excited to host a solo exhibition of artist Oliver Cain.

Oliver Cain is an English born/New Zealand Artist. He has exhibited widely in New Zealand and internationally, including notable shows in Greece, Germany, Spain, and New Zealand in 2021.

Cain’s work covers a broad range of topics as it changes and develops as well as a wide range of materials. His artworks, subverted linguistic paintings, ceramic sculptures and installations, bare a certain physicality and push the boundaries between conceptualism and post- pop art. The creative process behind Cain’s artworks is the most important thing and therefore his artworks can be made of anything and take any form. Appropriated everyday objects transform stereotypes and famous art historical references become twisted. As proud member of the queer community, Cain uses his work to examine, question and criticize the relationships between gender, sexuality and societies’ misconceptions about those themes. But, despite what it might look like to the contemporary spectator, there is an universal profundity at play revealing itself slowly for those willing to look and feel.

The work for ‘Let’s Start Again’ focuses on Cains subverted linguistic paintings. The foundation of these works are to be individually interpreted, with meaningful mark making with subtle indirect gestures sending a message with symbols, shapes, sometimes obvious, sometimes not, using low-key line direction to convey a subtle message that is not always realised. All constructed freely; each work grows spontaneously across the canvas.

This exhibition will open on Tuesday 25th of January 10am, and then run daily at Northart until 6th of March.

Image: Oliver Cain, 'Alex's Smile', 2021 (detail), image courtesy of the artist and Northart