Wesley John Fourie - This must be the place
The current Artist in Residence at the 85 Glasgow Street Artist Residency, Wesley John Fourie is an award winning emerging artist based in Aotearoa New Zealand whose work explores themes of nature, spirituality, and sexuality through use of textiles, often manifesting as large scale “soft sculptures”. They are interested in exploring scale as a lens through which to process data, which usually result in 1/1 hand knit scale models of natural objects. They also use embroidery as a vehicle for art making, creating ephemeral, highly emotive textile installations which explore themes of love, loss, and queer sexuality, alongside installations of native flora.
Their work is predominantly textile based, though has also been written, performative, drawing, and painting. Wesley John sees art as a vehicle to raise awareness of the sacred status of our natural environment, and will often be found (when not in their studio) lost somewhere in the mountains or the forest. Due to an interest in spirituality, they have spent extended periods of time across the Indian subcontinent.
Their work is held in private collections across Aotearoa New Zealand, India, Japan, Nepal, Germany, Italy, United States of America, and Australia as well as public institutions across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Forthcoming projects over the next year include: presenting a 1/100 scale model of Te Awa Tupua Whanganui River, a solo exhibition at Malcolm Smith Gallery in September, a solo exhibition at 18a in October, group shows at Calder & Lawson and Ramp in February, a solo exhibition at Te Koputu a Te Whanga a Toi in April, a group show at Meanwhile in May, and a solo exhibition at the Wallace Gallery in October, and a solo exhibition at Wharepuke, as well as a public artwork scheduled for presentation at Queenstown Airport late 2021 - early 2022.
