Genealogy III: Koru Fusion in Modernist Abstraction by Walters
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Gordon Walters, Geneology III, 1971, printed 2020, screenprint on paper, edition of 100, indented with Walters Estate chop mark, 105.5 x 80.5 cm, Gordon Walters (1919-1995) is one of Aotearoa New Zealand's most significant artists. He is revered for his fusion of European modernism and indigenous Maori motifs. From the 1950s onwards, Walters experimented widely with Maori and Pacific symbols. This led to his synthesis of the hard-edged painting style of modernist abstraction utlising the organic form of the koru pattern, for which he became well known. The artist described his paintings as an attempt to make sense of the environment in which he lived. Genealogy III and Tahi are prime examples of his signature stylised koru achieved through extreme reduction and repetition. In these prints, Walters uses positive and negative relationships to suggest the rhythmic form of a koru. Derived from kowhaiwhai patterns, the koru refers to the endless cycle of birth, death and renewal in te ao Maori. Genealogy III divides the composition into thirds: the koru pattern appears to cascade down the surface, decreasing in size in the lower two-thirds of the picture plane. In this manner, the work suggests the idea of lineage of whakapapa inherent in the title. Walter's Genealogy series is considered one of his greatest achievements. Similarly, Tahi explores the formal and symbolic registers of the word. Meaning both 'One' and 'In unison', Tahi uses a limited palette of yellow and black to create an elegant yet powerful drama across the Art work's surface. The works strike a keen balance between geometric purity and optically charged movement.
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- Modernism / Modernist - Modernist furniture and design emerged in the early to mid-20th century as a response to traditional styles of the 19th century and prior times, and a reflection of the technological and social changes of the time. Characteristics of Modernist furniture and design include simplicity and minimalism and clean lines and a lack of unnecessary ornamentation are key features. That form follows function is a fundamental principle of Modernist design, and furniture and objects are designed with a focus on their practical use.
Modernist furniture often incorporates geometric shapes, such as cubes, rectangles, and circles. This reflects a departure from the more ornate and curvilinear forms of previous design styles. The furniture often prioritizes ergonomic design, ensuring that objects are comfortable and user-friendly. Modernist designers aimed to create designs that could be mass-produced, making good design accessible to a broader population.
Prominent figures associated with Modernist furniture and object design include designers such as Hans Wegner, Verner Panton, Florence Knoll, Harry Bertoia and Ettore Sottsass - Manner of .... / Style of ..... - A cataloguing term where the item, in the opinion of the cataloguer is a work in the style of the artist, craftsman or designer, possibly of a later period.
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