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ROBERT MCLEOD – Balancing Act – 8 Oct-2 Nov 2018

This is Robert McLeod’s first exhibition in Christchurch for ten years and is thus something of a ‘catch-up’ exhibition, featuring paintings that illustrate some of the strands in his work from 2010 to 2018.

His perverse ‘Disneyesque’ figures are a response to the current state of prejudice and intolerance in the world.  McLeod comments that he “grew up reading science fiction, thinking that aliens were from Mars.  [Now] America calls anyone they don’t want in their country an alien.  That’s odd language to use to describe other humans.”

Sci Fi Flash #3, by Robert McLeod, 2017 oil and enamel on plywood Sci Fi Flash #4, by Robert McLeod, 2017 oil and enamel on plywood Sci Fi Flash #5, by Robert McLeod, 2017 oil and enamel on plywood 
Balancing Act #1, by Robert McLeod, 2016 oil and enamel on plywood Balancing Act #2, by Robert McLeod, 2016 oil and enamel on plywood Balancing Act #3, by Robert McLeod, 2016 oil and enamel on plywood   The Gogol Group, 2015 oil and enamel on plywood
Hi Rise with UFO & Tooth Smile, by Robert McLeod, 2014/15 oil and enamel on plywood Hooser, 2018 oil and enamel on plywood Squeeze mocks, 2012 oil and enamel on plywood
Stressed worker with Banshee, 2010/12 oil and enamel on plywood The Banshee says hello, 2018 oil and enamel on plywood Mac Ara Escapes, 2016 oil and enamel on plywood Richter monument with dead alien, 2012/14 oil and enamel on plywood

 UFO & High Rise #5, by Robert McLeod, 2017 oil and enamel on plywood UFO & High Rise #7, by Robert McLeod, 2017 oil and enamel on plywood UFO & High Rise #3, by Robert McLeod, 2017 oil and enamel on plywood UFO & High Rise #6, by Robert McLeod, 2017 oil and enamel on plywood

 UFO & High Rise #1, by Robert McLeod, 2017 oil and enamel on plywood UFO & High Rise #2, by Robert McLeod, 2017 oil and enamel on plywood UFO & High Rise #4, by Robert McLeod, 2017 oil and enamel on plywood

Born in Scotland in 1948, Robert McLeod studied at the Glasgow School of Art from 1965-69 and moved to New Zealand in 1972. He currently lives and works in Wellington.

He looks for an emotional intuitive response to his work and in recent years he has been mining a rich vein of imagery in comic books and children’s cartoons. The work is intensely coloured, painted with bravado. His interest in the physical aspects of paint has led McLeod outside the realm of the traditional rectangular canvas in favour of more unconventional shapes that further emphasise the natural tendencies of paint. “I want [the paint] to be scraped, burnt, cut, pierced, scarred, glazed, wrinkled, aged like skin.”

He has exhibited extensively throughout New Zealand. In 2012 there was a survey exhibition of his work at Wellington City Gallery. Robert McLeod is represented in most major New Zealand collections including: Te Papa Tongarewa, Museum of New Zealand; Sarjeant Gallery, Wanganui;  Auckland Art Gallery, Christchurch Art Gallery, James Wallace Collection.