performance at blue oyster

''The recent violence he represents, come to be emotional simplicity'', James Bellaney (Mint Gallery) 8 Feburary 2013.
Maori cosmology provides the spark of inspiration for a series of abstract works by James Bellaney at Mint Gallery.
The protagonists of the Maori creation myth are the earth and sky, Papatuanuku and Ranginui, pushed apart by their son Tane, along with Tawhirimatea, the weather god, whose constant winds are evidence of his anger at what his brother Tane has done. Hine-nui-te-po, goddess of the underworld and sunset is also evoked in these paintings.
The mixed-media pieces, which have watercolour as a main element, use an effective limited palette of earth tones, blacks, and whites. Highlighted elements in bright red provide some needed colour to the works. These are colours which reflect both the mud and stone of newly-formed earth and the traditional colours of pre-colonial Maori art. A constant element in the works is the circle, its strong, complete form indicating the cycle of life and of karma, and also of the oneness of all creation.
An aleatory element has been introduce to the works by means of using a cut-up technique to arrive at the titles of the paintings and of the exhibition itself. In this way, viewers can read into the titles whatever they wish, potentially colouring their views of the works' natures.

by James Dignan
published in the Otago Daily times. 14 February
http://www.odt.co.nz/entertainment/arts/245637/art-seen

My artist statement for the show.

The recent violence he represents, come to be emotional simplicty.

I love the process of the painting with watercolors, the reaction of the medium together with the surface. Watercolour forbids me to claim anything as a mistake. Every organic mark made on the page reveals a history, evolving into a finished work that is raw and visceral. Patience and acceptance is itself an imrpotant part of the process.

The title of this body of work was discovered through the process of cut up words from a random art article, shuffled and simplified.

With the colours I want to emthasize time and earthly elements such as earth, water, wind and bone. Reflecting the emotional content of Patatuanuku and connecting the personal potential inspired by the hidden, dark inner worlds. These are places not only of death but also of beginning. They are places of refuge for 'Hine Nui Te Po', (Goddess of the underworld) who resides in shame, and 'Tahwhiamatea'(God of the weather) who bears a constant grudge against his brothers. Also Tane, who split the Mother and Father allowing light and revealing all. I am also inspired by Dante's Inferno and his descent into the underworld.

By James Bellaney
Artist

Tohunga ta whakaahua whenua

James Bellaney, up and coming local Dunedin artist is coming to Mint Gallery. His exhibition 'Tohunga ta whakaahua whenua' opens Friday 13th July and runs until August 2nd. 'Tohunga ta whakaahua whenua' meaning 'landscape painter' will consist of large scale abstract paintings by James which will take up the whole of Mint Gallery until the begining of August. Mint Gallery warmly invites you down to have a look at these visually impacting pieces during the three week period. We hope you can make it :-)

ART REVIEW BY HANA AOKE

expression. Thursday, July 29, 2010 James Bellaney These are pieces from my favourite Dunedin-based artist, James Bellaney. Bellaney is a fourth year painting student at the Dunedin school of art. Stylistically, Bellaney’s work is reminiscent of the intimacy felt in Surrealist automatism, American action painting and Abstract Expressionism. This is evident from the quality of his work, which has the appearance of being somewhat considered, yet spontaneously gestural and improvised. Bellaney’s creative process involves methodically moving the paint by means of splashing, staining, stumbling and dripping across the working space. Often it appears as though he is using seemingly random tools, as opposed to the more traditional paint brush.Upon viewing him work, his figure is reminiscent to that of to Hans Namuth’s photographs of American Abstract expressionist, Jackson Pollock. Bellaney, not dissimilar to Pollock and other artists, such as transgressive artist Vito Accohi, Australian artist Dale Frank, Paul McCarthy, Pablo Picasso (particularly the film featuring him paint on glass) and many kinetic sculptors use art to convey ranging emotions and subsequent reflections upon their individual lives. However Bellaney’s pieces have a quintessential spiritual quality, which I believe is apparent because of his Maori heritage. This sense of spirituality I would liken to not only his works kinetic flow of energy (a reference to music and surfing), but also the strongest of his influences comes from his own environment, nature. As a sense of the calming waves and aggressive internal conflict merge together to create a chaotic rhythm of his perceptions of his own environment and sense of identity. N.B. 1. A Hans Namuth portrait of Jackson Pollock (1950), http://www.npg.si.edu/exh/namuth/pol3nam.htm 2. Bellaney at his performance-based exhibition at none gallery earlier this year 3. Piece from the collection, 'Natural landscapes' 4. Piece from the collection, 'Corrosion' Posted by Marrow Magazine at 8:00 PM

ARTIST CHRONOLOGY

James Bellaney, Art CV
jamesbellaney@hotmail.co.nz
Cell-0277531933
Home ph-(03)4780009
Address-4 Tidewater st, Portobello, Dunedin.
BORN Hastings, New Zealand, 1980
CURRENTLY Studying for BFA, Forth Year
SELF LEARNING, GAINING INSPIRATION THROUGH, WALKIING THROUGH SOUTHLAND.

EXHIBITIONS 2008, “VEIWS ON DEATH”, Old ART CENTER, Dunedin
2008, “Ten Day Boutique” NONE Gallery, Dunedin
2009, “Ten Day Boutique” NONE Gallery, Dunedin
2010, “TURANGAWAEWAE”, Modaks Cafe, Dunedin
2010,”Natural Landscape, Paintings and Performance”,
NONE Gallery, Dunedin. (solo)

2010, “Te Kanano O Mahitoi, Maori Art Exhibition”, Tangente
Cafe, Dunedin
2010, “Reflections”, Tangente Cafe, Dunedin
2010,”Dislocation”, House of Taonga Salon, Auckland. (solo)
2010,”Thought for Self”, NONE Gallery, Dunedin. (solo).
2010,”Small works”, Flax Cafe, Dunedin
2011, Matariki ( Celebration of creation), Paintings and
and performance. Community art gallery. (solo).
201,1 Art and Law V, Law Faculty, Dunedin university.
2011, “ Without hope Without fear”, Dowling st studio
gallery.
2011 “out of the either” Modaks cafe, Dunedin.

COLLECTIONS HOUSE OF TAONGA Salon, Tracey Tawhiao, Auckland
Blogg http://jamesbellaney.blogspot.com/2010_05_01_archive.html

Without Hope. Without Fear | The Big Idea | Te Aria Nui

Without Hope. Without Fear | The Big Idea | Te Aria Nui:

'via Blog this'

ART IN LAW V

http://www.otago.ac.nz/law/news/Law%20Art%20Programme%20V%20March%2011.pdf