City Activations
Judy Millar, Waves to the Sea
The inspiration for this series of works on Britomart’s Pavilion Panels and in flags around the district by painter Judy Millar came from the directness of old grocery signage: prices of goods in straightforward black ink backed by bright, attention-seeking hues. Except here, as rendered by Millar’s brushes, those numerals have evolved into something less legible and more thought-provoking. Is the artist selling something? Or is she simply asking you to pay attention?
This series of images was created especially for this setting by Millar to celebrate the Aotearoa Art Fair: nine individual works were painted at a smaller scale, scanned and scaled up to fit these panels, while two flag designs with various coloured trims were digitally printed on fabric. Millar lives and works in west Auckland, and her vigorous paintings have been evolving in fascinating ways since she graduated from the Elam School of Fine Arts in 1983. She has represented New Zealand at the Venice Art Biennale and exhibits her work locally and internationally.
Judy Millar’s work is presented with the permission of the artist and Lett Thomas Gallery.