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Kō atu I Te Ikaroa / Beyond the Milky Way
Since the late 1990s, Reuben Paterson has emerged as an artist of remarkable curiosity and depth, using glitter to illuminate the probing frontiers of our world and expand the possibilities for reimagination and interpretation. His paintings and sculptures traverse both the natural and supernatural realms, exploring identity, culture, and the intricate connections that transcend binary thinking. The title itself evokes the crepuscular hours—the fleeting moments between sunset and moonrise—when the earth shifts, and creatures that thrive in twilight emerge.
In a world where joy and harm intertwine, Paterson's work illuminates the delicate balance between pleasure and peril. As life on Earth becomes increasingly precarious, he reveals truths we instinctively know but may not fully acknowledge. We gaze in awe at coral cities—thousands of years in the making—submerged beneath the waves, reminiscent of our wonder when gazing up at Te Ikaroa, the Milky Way. Most strikingly, Paterson invites us to appreciate the beauty of tangotango—the darkness between the stars.
By merging the vastness of space and ocean, Paterson challenges the traditional, land-focused view of our planet. He shifts our attention from rigid, continental maps that have historically governed our understanding of space and time, emphasising instead the fluid expanses of Earth’s oceans as one interconnected whole. Paterson's vision of communalism stands in stark contrast to the colonial practices of European and American cartographers, who imposed arbitrary lines on the sea, dividing oceanic peoples and confining them to restricted territories for the first time. He immerses viewers in the boundless waters that unite our world, revealing the planet as a cohesive, interflowing body—its winds, currents, migratory fish, and rhythmic tides all in sync.
Paterson’s work doesn’t just make us reflect; it provokes essential questions about how we view and navigate these frontiers—both literally and metaphorically—touching on issues of ownership, autonomy, value, and waste.
Amidst the intricate tapestry of life, the world reveals its complexity and inherent magic, a realm forever brimming with wonder. For Paterson, art is an invitation to delve into that magic—reviving those poignant moments of emotional connection that remind us of our place within it. His mesmerising portrayals of the astrological and ecological realms, interwoven with hypnotic narratives, inspire a profound sense of awe, highlighting the delicate dance between humanity and the environment.
Paterson’s works serve as a poignant reminder to peel back the layers of the universe and attune ourselves to the world in ways we've either forgotten or never learned.
In our quest to understand the human manipulation of time and space, we must confront a pivotal question: what do we truly need versus what do we merely desire? These inquiries unveil a profound truth: the world does not rely on our existence to flourish. The Man Who Lived Between Sunset and Moonrise invites us to seek meaning in what eludes our grasp, compelling us to rekindle our connection with the awe that resides in the ocean's depths and the stillness of the cosmos.
–Dina Jezdić
Kō atu I Te Ikaroa / Beyond the Milky Way
Since the late 1990s, Reuben Paterson has emerged as an artist of remarkable curiosity and depth, using glitter to illuminate the probing frontiers of our world and expand the possibilities for reimagination and interpretation. His paintings and sculptures traverse both the natural and supernatural realms, exploring identity, culture, and the intricate connections that transcend binary thinking. The title itself evokes the crepuscular hours—the fleeting moments between sunset and moonrise—when the earth shifts, and creatures that thrive in twilight emerge.
In a world where joy and harm intertwine, Paterson's work illuminates the delicate balance between pleasure and peril. As life on Earth becomes increasingly precarious, he reveals truths we instinctively know but may not fully acknowledge. We gaze in awe at coral cities—thousands of years in the making—submerged beneath the waves, reminiscent of our wonder when gazing up at Te Ikaroa, the Milky Way. Most strikingly, Paterson invites us to appreciate the beauty of tangotango—the darkness between the stars.
By merging the vastness of space and ocean, Paterson challenges the traditional, land-focused view of our planet. He shifts our attention from rigid, continental maps that have historically governed our understanding of space and time, emphasising instead the fluid expanses of Earth’s oceans as one interconnected whole. Paterson's vision of communalism stands in stark contrast to the colonial practices of European and American cartographers, who imposed arbitrary lines on the sea, dividing oceanic peoples and confining them to restricted territories for the first time. He immerses viewers in the boundless waters that unite our world, revealing the planet as a cohesive, interflowing body—its winds, currents, migratory fish, and rhythmic tides all in sync.
Paterson’s work doesn’t just make us reflect; it provokes essential questions about how we view and navigate these frontiers—both literally and metaphorically—touching on issues of ownership, autonomy, value, and waste.
Amidst the intricate tapestry of life, the world reveals its complexity and inherent magic, a realm forever brimming with wonder. For Paterson, art is an invitation to delve into that magic—reviving those poignant moments of emotional connection that remind us of our place within it. His mesmerising portrayals of the astrological and ecological realms, interwoven with hypnotic narratives, inspire a profound sense of awe, highlighting the delicate dance between humanity and the environment.
Paterson’s works serve as a poignant reminder to peel back the layers of the universe and attune ourselves to the world in ways we've either forgotten or never learned.
In our quest to understand the human manipulation of time and space, we must confront a pivotal question: what do we truly need versus what do we merely desire? These inquiries unveil a profound truth: the world does not rely on our existence to flourish. The Man Who Lived Between Sunset and Moonrise invites us to seek meaning in what eludes our grasp, compelling us to rekindle our connection with the awe that resides in the ocean's depths and the stillness of the cosmos.
–Dina Jezdić