Created as a tongue-in-cheek narrative on ‘cookie cutter’ perfectly tanned sunbathers filling the beach. Enter one unapologetic male sporting pale skin and blue jeans plonked himself down in the mix. From Barry: "This painting features my girlfriend at the time Leanne (to become my wife) and my flatmate Peter. It is about disrupting the 'natural' and orderly nature of things, realising it is a construction a fabrication and anyone has the power to make this change".
Standard Squared measures: 30.5 x 30.5 cm
Each matted print comes in a crisp off-white mattboard sleeve with a 5mm backing board
One of our most distinctive artists - Barry is a passionate conservationist of the wildlife of Aotearoa, and helpfully - incredibly talented. Initially training as a sign writer before taking an OE and returning to New Zealand to begin his career as an artist, Barry holds a master of Fine Arts degree and has now been painting for over 25 years. As reflected in his work, Barry is involved with Pest Free NZ, working to restore native wildlife from extinction and his island series depicts the tension between the exploitation of our natural environment and the fight for conservation. He spends most of his days in a small room with his music playing and a pencil or a brush in hand - scribbling out ideas in charcoal and paint. Barry is most happy just playing along to the tune in his head, and is fortunate to have a supportive wife and is a proud father of two daughters.