arum: a white room

25 July - 31 August 2008

Arum: a white room is a site specific installation by Nelson based artist Anne Rush. It is the culmination of more than two decades of full-time art practice and weaves together multiple strands from Anne's career.  The scale and ambition of the exhibition is an unprecedented achievement for this artist and marks a seminal point in her artistic development.  The installation also signals a turning point in the artist's life and in this respect, is transformative at both an artistic and personal level. 

Arum: a white room explores the relationship between shadow and light, memory and experience, loss and hope, and looks at the emotional transitions in our lives.  It focuses on the symbol of the arum lily, a flower that has been used in ceremonies commemorating loss, marriage and spiritual belief.  This symbol first appeared in Anne’s 1995 series of paintings, Journeys, exhibited at The Suter Art Gallery.  The arum then took on a greater significance in her work as she faced a period of overpowering loss.  Anne began to construct the arum lilies in three-dimensions affixed directly to a canvas surface.  She also began to work in an entirely white palette which emphasised the interplay of light and shadow between surface and form.  This was an important departure for an artist known previously as a colourist and reflects the impact of this period on the artist’s life.

While the inspiration for arum: a white room comes from a private place, like a flower, it has developed into a public expression of tranquillity and serenity.  The artist’s intention for this exhibition is to share her hard won sense of peace with others by creating a total experience that encourages interaction and contemplation.  In this all white environment, observe how your shadow mingles with those of the arum lilies – effectively making you part of the work.  Pathways through the installation lead to quiet resting places and there is a journal for you to record your thoughts and responses.  This sharing of experiences and remaining open to the beliefs and interpretation of others, is something that Anne has learnt during her “search for peace in an uncertain world”.

 
The artist would like to acknowledge the collaboration of the following:

Technical support: Sam Laidlaw

Furniture: by Roger Davies

Lighting: by Anthony Hodgson

Construction: by A J Brown Builders

Paint supplied by: Resene

Construction materials: supplied by Nelson Pine Industries