Tjalling de Vries
2 Nov 2023
26 Nov 2023
TAKING ROOT
In Taking Root, Tjalling de Vries connects with the Banks Peninsula environment in which he was raised, from his current home of Ōhinehou/Lyttelton. For this solo exhibition, de Vries has expanded his creative practice to produce a series woodblock prints of trees that are native to Banks Peninsula. The exhibition also includes a hand printed book made in collaboration with the poet and playwright, Pohlen Newbery, and printer and curator, Peter Vangioni. Newbery wrote the text in te reo Māori, and Vangioni printed the words on his letterpress with two of de Vries’ woodblock prints alongside.
Tjalling de Vries is an artist currently living in Ōhinehou/Lyttelton. Born in the Netherlands, de Vries grew up on Banks Peninsula and attended the University of Canterbury Ilam School of Fine Arts, gaining a BFA (Printmaking) in 2005 and an MFA Distinction (Painting) in 2011. Tjalling’s practice traverses a range of media and thematic concerns, often with a particular interest in spacial and multisensory experiences, as well as the simple art of picture making. Tjalling is represented by Jonathan Smart Gallery.