The introduction from the catalogue essay for Tony Bishop's exhibition 22nd August - 2nd November, 2014. For full catalogue essay please contact Southland Museum & Art Gallery.
Tony Bishop, 'Settle Down in a Quiet Little Town', 2002
Over the past thirteen
years and throughout this body of work Tony Bishop has persistently examined
Southland in an utterly unique and personal way. The narratives within his
works are often autobiographical and others are carefully selected tales coming
together to create feelings of unease, detachment and desolation. His works are
abundant with contradictions and open debates about the land and the people who
live in it. His paintings offer the viewer his perspective in order to
challenge their own.
