CHRISTINA PATAIALII

Central to Pataialii’s practice is her experimentation with painting mediums and the use of common materials. Alongside the use of acrylic paint, spray paint and charcoal, Pataialii often uses house paint to create a spatial push and pull between depth and flatness. She has a closeness with the material—her father was a house painter. We are witness to nostalgia, pop culture, an alternative telling of tales and history. However, the question is whether we will recognise what we are seeing.

Common in Pataialii’s paintings is a sense of immediacy. With her direct mark making, building, erasing and scraping the surface, she works across multiple surfaces simultaneously. Pataialii’s painting practice isn’t limited to the canvas but can merge from canvas, on to the walls, occupying space as is needed.

Text courtesy McLeavey Gallery