Christchurch photographer Stuart Clook’s artist residency starts with an exhibition at Pūmanawa, on the First floor of the Boys’ High Building in The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora. The exhibition will run from Monday 1 April to Sunday 7 April, with an Opening on Tuesday 2 April.
Stuart shares his passion for the land, analogue photography, and historical printing processes with an exhibition of handcrafted New Zealand landscape photographic prints that showcase a unique combination of science, craftsmanship, and personal expression.
With influences from the Pictorial and Tonalist aesthetics of the late 19th century and use of the platinum-palladium, carbon transfer, gum bichromate, silver gelatin, and cyanotype printing processes, Stuart conjures a timeless atmosphere, allowing viewers to connect with the essence of each subject and location. These labor-intensive methods result in prints that are celebrated for their subtle tonal range, luminosity, and enduring quality, providing a tactile experience that is hard to find in today's digital age.
About Stuart Clook
Stuart Clook is a photographer and printmaker who finds inspiration in the aesthetic traditions of the late 19th-century Pictorial and Tonalism movements for his artistic work. His commitment to using time-honoured printing processes such as platinum, carbon transfer, cyanotype, and gum bichromate reflects his deep passion and dedication to capturing the essence and drama of the New Zealand landscape and its flora.
For Stuart, these techniques are not just tools; they are the very medium through which he interprets the natural world. Each project reflects a delicate balance between control and serendipity, resulting in prints that are both unique and an invitation for viewers to escape the rapid pace of modern life. Stuart's work provides a sanctuary, encouraging individuals to unwind and immerse themselves in the beauty of the natural world.
Emigrating from the UK to NZ in the early 1990’s Stuart is a self taught photographer who has exhibited his work in NZ, Australia and China and whose work is held in private collections throughout these countries. His work has featured in several publications including a 2021 artist interview in Analog Forever magazine and as a featured artist in the 2020 Platinotype: Making Photographs in Platinum and Palladium with the Contemporary Printing-out Process by Pradip Malde & Mike Ware.