'Geoff Thornley from the collection of Dame Jenny Gibbs' Reviewed on Eye Contact

John Hurrell has reviewed Geoff Thornley from the collection of Dame Jenny Gibbs for Eye Contact noting that it is 'a terrific exhibition'.

"In this beautifully sequenced show, eleven paintings (made between 1972 and 1988) are presented—almost all being up for resale—from this most remarkable (and under recognised) Auckland-based abstractionist. The exhibition gives us an unusual opportunity to examine and think about Thornley’s meticulously crafted and exceptionally elegant visual art statements.

The selection is varied and full of surprises for the observant. Thornley seems to like to play with logic, particularly via geometry; while embracing clarity. And trying out novel methods of painting/drawing; testing out water-resist under-painting, gridded masking tape composition and ‘dry-brush’ roller application—exhilarating in creating unpredictable, emerging highly textured layers of marks."

Read the full review here.

March 28, 2022