OUTER SPACE ART - NZ artist Makoure Scott

WATCH THIS SPACE for updates! and contact ArtSouth for latest works EXCLUSIVE to New Zealand

Since December 2007 the hot news is all about our very own South Island artist Makoure Scott who will become the first artist in Outer Space in the history of mankind.

SPACE ARTIST
Makoure Scott. Pronounced Ma_Kor-Ri, remember this name. Scott is the latest and most influential artist to hail from New Zealand and rocket onto the international art scene. Working with Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic team, Scott is currently preparing to be the first professional artist to blast-off to outer space. It clear that Scott is very hot property right now.

With a rapidly growing international profile, some might find it surprising that it is a local Gore gallery, ArtSouth, that has had exclusive access to all Scott's work outside of London since late 2006. Bob Martin, the director of ArtSouth first spotted Scott work on the internet 3 years ago, and subsequently made a number of sales prior to their first meeting late last year at the Scott exhibition in the New Zealand High Commission, London. Since then it has been with great pride that a broad collection of Scott work has been exhibited and sold through ArtSouth.

In terms of his craft, Scott is a highly skilled artist in the areas of Oamaru stone carving, bronze casting, environmental installation and life drawing. Having been mentored by Ralph Hotere for a number of years, parallels can easily be seen between their works, particularly with Maori influences. Working with cultural and sometimes political ideas in mind, Scott work is often a researched response to New Zealand social climate, incorporating elements of Maori and Pakeha culture. Scott travels around the South Island collecting materials such as sand stone, native tree gum and bark. These ingredients were collected from sites of environmental and historical significance. These same materials were often utilised traditionally by early Maori in moko and fabric colouring. The stones and ocres are crushed and ground to a fine and colourful paste and added to sand, tree bark and gum. As an artist Scott has travelled extensively over the past the past ten years to hone his skills with new inspiration and experiences. He is now preparing for what he considers as the ultimate journey in the pursuit for inspiration and material for his artwork.

Building up for the Virgin Galactica launch which all going to plan could be as soon as early 2009, Scott is releasing a pre-launch series of eight paintings. ArtSouth has already had exclusive access and sold one of these paintings to a Southland collector. A number of works sold by ArtSouth are featured in the beautiful art book, 'Makoure Scott-Twenty-First Century Works', published by Paul Holberton, London 2006 and available through ArtSouth.

After Scotts excursion to outer space he will be preparing a collection of works based on the sketches and inspiration gained from his experience. This post-launch collection is being scheduled for a world tour including venues in London, Barcelona, San Fransisco, New York and Dubai. This collection is highly anticipated and is expected to be significantly influenced by his 'Outer Space experience'. Having come from the South Island Scott is keen to keep a selection of his work in New Zealand, in private and public collections, a vision shared by ArtSouth's director, Bob Martin. ArtSouth currently has exclusive options on a number of Scott works.

FOOTNOTE. For current information contact
Bob Martin
Director
ArtSouth

SYNAPSE 3, see on artists works list, one of 8 PRE-LAUNCH series works offered through ArtSouth late 2006 and sold to a private collector in Southland. This painting is scheduled to complete a world tour with other 'Space Works'

KORU a 2.5 metre high tryptich also sold to a Southland collector December 2007, continues to be on public display at the Fowler Centre, Wellington.

SEE - SYNAPSE 9 (displayed at ArtSouth late 2007) and other NZ Historic works, listed - under Modern Art at www.international-jewellers.co.uk

30-Jun-09