CONSTANTINE NICHOLAS: ENDGAME
25 January –6 March 2004
Untitled (endgame), 2003 Oil, ink, shellac on six canvas panels. 80 x 300cms
Constantine Nicholas is an artist who considers post-colonial issues and cultural identities in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. His work cross-references observations of the first explorers, astronomy and indigenous cultures of the Pacific.
Often you will see in his work fragments of colonial botanical drawings of plants and names given by the early explorers, or tall ships on expeditions from distant lands. However, the most distinctive element of Nicholas' work is his use of text - old English scripts in a calligraphic style, native tongues of colonalised lands, often Asian and Arabic, and a kind of encrypted braille adding another level of comment. It is precisely this overlaying and overlapping of text, images and cultural associations that the artist uses to question colonisation, and our ideas of assimilation and ownership of the land. As Nicholas says, "This painting was inspired by New Zealand painter Colin McCahon’s "Northland panels" 1958, and questions our existence on this earth."
In this painting "untitled (endgame)" the old script hides the words "Make No Mistake", the dots overtop boldy print the word "endgame" from left to right - warning us of peril. Just like a pin-ball game, the slightest mistake will result in a disasterous end - endgame. Nicholas plays on our conscience, his warning wrapped up in the richness of his surfaces.
It is this choice of medium - its very preciousness created through layers of metal leaf and varnish - that echoes the opulance of the colonial era and invites comparisons with the richness of today's capitalism.
For further details visit the artist’s website at www.constantinenicholas.com