3 August - 29 September 2024

Eastern Southland Gallery Gore

MON-FRI | 10-4:30PM | WEEKENDS 1-4PM | FREE

Te Au Nui is an art project centered around the rich historical, cultural, and environmental tapestry surrounding the Mataura Falls, Te Au Nui (meaning big swirling waters).

The project aims to delve into multifaceted layers of meaning and interconnectedness, offering a meditation on the falls’ past, present, and future.

At its core, Te Au Nui seeks to unravel the interplay between human interactions and the underlying rhythms of the natural world.

It will investigate how industrial advancements and exploitative actions, epitomized by the 19th-century dynamiting of the falls, have shaped the ecological and cultural fabric of the region

By juxtaposing organic and mechanical qualities, the project aims to shed light on the delicate balance between progress and preservation, asking viewers to reflect on the implications of human intervention on our environment.

The fusion of artistic processes, including painting and robotics, create incised lines and carved surfaces, which serve as metaphors for the enduring imprints of humanity on the landscape. 

Te Au Nui will be presented in conjunction with a collection of McLachlan’s previous tapestries, prints and drawings.

PAUL McLACHLAN ARTIST FLOOR TALK

Eastern Southland Gallery, Gore

Sunday 22 September, 4pm

Paul McLachlan will give an artist talk in conjunction with his current exhibition Te Au Nui / Big Swirling Waters.

Paul McLachlan is multidisciplinary artist with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Hons) in painting from Massey University and a Master of Fine Arts in printmaking (Distinction) from the University of Canterbury.

Born and raised in the Gore area, he is currently residing in Mataura with a studio on the banks of the Mataura River.

His exhibition Te Au Nui, the traditional name for the Mataura Falls, meaning "big swirling waters", is an art project centered around the rich historical, cultural, and environmental tapestry of the falls.

This is a special opportunity to meet the artist and hear him speak about the themes and processes behind the works in the exhibition.

Free admission.

All welcome.