TOBY RAINE

Heroes and Hangovers Gow Langsford Gallery 18 April–12 May 2018 Auckland City

Press Release

Toby Raine has a distinctive approach to painting. Moving oil paint across the surface of the canvas, his strokes are confident, rough and expressive. Peaks and splatters of his medium mix with thick, gestural strokes that rejoice in the materiality of paint. Taking an image or a photograph as a starting point, Raine’s work ends up in a terrain between representation and abstraction. He writes, “There’s no set goal except to make a painting work. I start with a projected image, and then I work into that... It comes out of a ritual, or a rule. The paint builds up and I work back into it or I wipe it off. There’s a grapple between control and spontaneity. I typically waste a lot of paint, though hopefully, I reach a moment where I’ll say, ‘yeah that’s interesting, that surprises me’. I’m not satisfied if I’m not surprised.”

Raine’s recent work has been inspired by popular culture, particularly referencing male icons or ‘heroes’ through the lens of portraiture. He invokes the magician, the rock god, the messiah, the prophet and the artist. He has a particular fascination with facial hair and the pride that is often assigned to it. By reflecting on influential and infamous artists and musicians, Raine explores how their image and ego affect his own identity. It comes as part of a wider investigation, where Raine considers the way men fashion their masculinity on historical examples.

Toby Raine is an Auckland-based artist who received a Doctor of Fine Arts from the University of Auckland in 2016. He has been a finalist in the Wallace Art Awards (2011, 2012, 2016) as well as a finalist in the Molly Morpeth Canaday Award (2014, 2015, 2016) and in the National Contemporary Art Award (2013).

About the Gallery

Gow Langsford is a commercial art space committed to fostering and promoting the best contemporary art from New Zealand and abroad. Located directly opposite the Auckland Art Gallery, Gow Langsford Gallery represents over thirty established New Zealand and international artists. Gow Langsford is one of the country’s most established galleries and is widely regarded as its most influential dealer gallery. Alongside a regular and varied exhibition schedule, Gow Langsford is a market leader in works on the secondary market.

View Gallery Profile

Address

28-36 Wellesley Street East
Auckland
New Zealand

Opening Hours

Monday – Friday, 10 am–5 pm
Saturday, 10 am – 4 pm
Closed Sunday

Gow Langsford Gallery

28-36 Wellesley Street East, Auckland, New Zealand

+64 9 303 9395
http://www.gowlangsfordgallery.com

Opening hours

Monday – Friday, 10 am–5 pm
Saturday, 10 am – 4 pm
Closed Sunday

Magazine Gallery Platform Advisory

Ocula Magazine

A respected voice in contemporary art discourse.

Focusing on ambitious storytelling and insightful art-world commentary. Ocula Magazine publishes in-depth interviews, critical essays and timely analysis on the artists, exhibitions and ideas driving the global art world.

Learn more about Ocula Magazine

Ocula Gallery Platform

Showcasing the best of the art world.

Ocula partners with galleries from around the world to highlight their artists, artworks and exhibitions. Gallery membership is by application and invitation, with each member vetted by an independent panel.

Learn more about Ocula Membership

Ocula Advisory

Specialises in the sale of major artworks.

Led by a team with deep ties to the world’s leading auction houses, galleries and collectors. Ocula’s advisory team offers bespoke services to high-net-worth clients from around the world who are looking to acquire the best of contemporary and modern art.

Learn more about our team and services

The art world in focus

TOBY RAINE

Installation Views