Jazz meets art in new exhibition

• By Hope Milo, UoA Communications Student

Howick artist Peter Hall’s latest exhibition, entitled Take Five, opened at Uxbridge Arts and Culture’s Malcolm Smith Gallery on February 28.

Showcasing a diverse collection of works from his six-decade career, his exhibition is both a retrospective and a celebration of his creative evolution.

Hall’s journey as an artist began in post-war England, where he was encouraged to study design for its career prospects.

“Traditional manufacturing industries were in full production,” he recalls.

“I was an art student at the time and was encouraged to study design, with the objective of finding a job in one of the manufacturing industries.

“Although fine art was another art school option, it was discouraged as it was not a money-earning career.”

Hall’s background in design has shaped his artistic approach, allowing him to explore a variety of subjects and styles, made clear in his expansive use of colour, shapes and textures.

Describing himself as “a designer who paints, rather than a painter,” he says: “To be a designer is to be all over the place. And I love being all over the place.”

The exhibition’s title also reflects Hall’s love for jazz.

“Take Five is a classic jazz tune. When I’m painting, I always have jazz music playing in the background.”

For Uxbridge visual arts co-ordinator Zoë May, curating Take Five was an opportunity to highlight the full range of Hall’s artistic practice.

“Peter’s exhibition had been passed down to me from my predecessors, and it had a few stops and starts due to various things,” May says.

“And then I came along and Paul [Brobbel, Uxbridge director] was like, ‘what about this exhibition that we’ve been promising for years?’ And I was like, ‘okay, here I go’.”

To bring the exhibition together, May researched Hall’s work extensively.

“He’s got two books that we’ve got in the gallery, so I started reading through those, skimming over and getting an idea of the kind of work that he does and the career path that he’s been on.

“And then I went to his house to see his studio and have a conversation about the direction we wanted to take things in.”

The exhibition’s layout is designed to take visitors on a journey through Hall’s different artistic approaches.

“Each wall is a different theme, and then it all kind of comes together with the central piece, which has got the fabric on it,” May explains.

“[The fabric piece] is kind of like the starting-out point, everything kind of comes out from that.

“And then there’s also jazz music playing in the background, which is what Peter listens to all the time when he’s painting in his studio.”

Having lived in the area for 40 years, Hall is no stranger to east Auckland’s art scene.

“I’ve had four previous shows at the Monterey Art Gallery in Howick,” he says.

“This new show at Uxbridge is part retrospective and new works on display.

“It’s a rewarding feeling to be displaying my art within my local community.”

For May, one of the highlights of the exhibition is the inclusion of Hall’s textile work.

“My favourite part, I think, is definitely being able to include something that isn’t mainly a painting in a painting exhibition,” she says.

“The textile element is really special because a lot of our shows are often mostly on the wall or sculptural.

“It’s quite a special thing – you only really see it in museums.

“And the rest of his textiles are in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, so we’re lucky to have that piece because it’s the only fabric sample he’s got left.”

When asked for the one thing he hopes people take from Take Five, Hall’s answer is simple.

“I hope the exhibition shows the local audience an opportunity to create something of your own invention, which can be very rewarding,” he says.

“You do not need to be an artist to be artistic.”

Take Five is open for public viewing until April 19, with a free artist talk by Hall on April 5 at 11am.