CALLUM ROBERTSON
Callum, a New Zealand-born artist based Barcelona, Spain, blends traditional elements from pacific cultures with the vibrant Catalan art scene.
From his studio in Poble Sec, he specializes in painting and creative carpentry, exploring the relationship between identity, nature, and artistic expression. His handcrafted and emotional approach creates a unique bridge between creative worlds.
About
Born in New Zealand in 1975, in Titirangi, Waitakere, in the west of Auckland. In 1996, after studying at the Auckland Institute of Technology, he moved to Edinburgh, Scotland. Here, he studied under the tutelage of established Scottish artist Helga Chart. Robertson then complimented his apprenticeship traveling through the Pacific Islands and learning traditional Polynesian art techniques such as “Tapa” (Bark Cloth) making and traditional dying methods. The region's art has heavily influenced Robertsons work, incorporating traditional symbols and materials into his works.
“Robertson's paintings are an explosion of Polynesian colour and design, drawing directly on the cultural influences of his birthplace of New Zealand (Aotearoa)”.
“Inspired by the cultural and social diversity of the island races in his hometown, Robertson brings together diverse Polynesian motifs and media (paperbark, hessian, wood), onto the canvas with pop sensibility to create his unique pieces.” –Paris Voice October 2001
Robertson grew up in Auckland, home to the largest and most mixed population of Polynesian races (including Tongan, Samoan, and Maori).
In Polynesian mythology, the souls of those recently departed from this world are reunited in 'Hawaiki' - the one homeland of the Polynesian peoples. This belief is more or less consistent amongst the different Polynesian Islands of the Pacific, from the New Zealand Maori to the peoples of Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, and Easter Island. Over time, many people of these (and other) lands have traveled to Aotearoa, where the vibrant blend of cultures has created a unique culture of its own.
Robertson's work combines recognized motifs from traditional barkcloth decoration with bright colors and a sense of vibrancy inspired by the natural beauty of the Pacific Islands.
Favouring multiple panels, Callum Robertson marries primitive materials such as hessian, bark cloth, and flax with an original use of sand, wood and brass. The result of this unusual combination breaks the physical confines of the canvas, compelling the eye to define the relationship between panels and the space that separates them.
