To present a comprehensive exhibition to reflect the life and work of an artist such as Ted Dutch is a daunting task. A practice as diverse and rich as Dutch's, and spanning over 50 years, is not one that can be easily summarised.
In Life and Work pieces have been selected to highlight the diversity of inspiration and practice and to reflect Dutch’s success as an artist across a range of media - painter, printmaker and ceramicist.
Born in London in 1928, Ted Dutch lived his formative years amongst the bombed buildings of the London Blitz. Deciding at the age of seven that he was going to be an artist, he attended St Martin's School of Art in London before working as a graphic artist and film animator. Ted first exhibited his paintings in England as a founder member of the Graphic Arts Group, a group of commercial artists who also painted seriously. In 1951, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and, in that same year, immigrated to New Zealand.
It was in Auckland during the sixties while working as a graphic artist in the screen-printing industry that Ted discovered the feasibility of screen-printing as a fine art medium, producing his first fine art screenprint Shipyard in 1962. He became fascinated with the potential of the medium and worked to further its acceptance as a valid fine art form. Dutch was a founder member of the New Zealand Print Council and became a working member of the Print Club of America. In later years, Ted spent most of his working life in Te Atatu and then Titirangi where he founded a studio and continued to exhibit within New Zealand and internationally.
Renowned for his technical mastery and whimsical style, Dutch’s works are often imbued with humour and a tender consideration for the ridiculous. Pieces are populated by ambiguous machinery, musicians, space men, technicians and meandering cities. The grouping of works in this exhibition loosely cluster around these keynotes evident throughout his artwork.
Although the renderings appear quick and simple they immaculately capture the character and humanity of the subject. Dutch's expert integration of diverse media such as screenprinting, ceramic, collage, acrylic paint and canvas create sense of exploration and possibility that pervades his work.
In keeping with his life-long obsession with art making, Ted continued to make work until shortly before his passing in January 2008 at the age of 79.
In Life and Work we can see the reflection of the man - Ted Dutch walked many lines, danced to many different tunes. A printmaker, painter, ceramicist and sculptor. A rigorous technician working with childlike freedom. A humorist and a humanist. Out on the fringes and everyone's favourite.
Kylie Sanderson
We gratefully acknowledge the extensive assistance of Cheryl Dutch in compiling this exhibition.
A full biography on Ted Dutch and access to research the Gallery collection of research materials is available on request. Please enquire with gallery staff.
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