Payne directs our attention to the delicate features of our vast and varied coastlines, the glistening seas and pristine sands rendered with astonishing accuracy. Not merely imitating nature, Payne’s painterly fragments coalesce to form representations of particular moments in time, evoking the mystery of the natural world. The large scale of Payne’s works in acrylic provides the sense we might simply walk right into his chosen scene, with the water lapping at our feet.
In the artist’s own words: “whether it is a landscape or a portrait, the aim for me is to capture the essence of what it is I’m painting. It can be an emotion, a feeling or a mood. I am fascinated by how an image is just tiny bits of colour joined or linked together like some sort of code. I love to explore the relationships between colour, light and form and how these elements are seen by the eye when they are put together.”
Since graduating from Whitecliffe School of Art and Design in 2004 Payne has cultivated a strong following within the New Zealand art scene.
Matt Payne has been represented by Parnell Gallery since 2012.
