“Exclusively Forged”
A project on Innovation through work fusion and virtual collaboration in Contemporary painting
Forge, Verb
Past tense: forged
Create (something) strong, enduring or successful
“the two women forged a close bond”
As March 2020 drew to a close and a lockdown imposed, New Zealanders found themselves in unprecedented times. As solo art practitioners located in separate studios, who for over a decade have forged a friendship and admiration for each other’s work, Visser + Abbott were inspired and enabled by a funding opportunity made possible by Creative New Zealand to explore a new way to collaborate virtually, creating an original and exciting combined physical body of work.
“Exclusively forged” is the culmination of this opportunity and the outcome of the project is a new development in Fine Arts practice. By combining two merged styles, Visser + Abbott show that it is possible to extend both the range of works and the audience, invaluable for the survival of independent art studios. This exhibition is aiming to be an inspiration to others to share and collaborate but also demonstrates that despite physical and social isolation, creativity has no borders.
Dr.Anne Visser is an abstract artist. Large scale paintings, very bright and colourful, are typical for her style. Wide, big brushstrokes combined with spontaneous and impulsive movement create contemporary works of a unique kind. Her art is inspired by travel, international experiences and cultural identity. Intuitive drawings in the paintings stay as remainders of this international connection.
Suzy Abbott is a botanical artist. Inspired by the traditions of botanical art, Suzy works to find a balance between scientific accuracy and the aesthetic quality of the painting. Aiming for a more contemporary approach she often paints in a large scale format striving to really engage the viewer and highlight the beauty of the natural world.
We gratefully acknowledge the support of Creative New Zealand who made this project possible.
