Rupert is one of the youngest artists represented by The Vivian. Yet his skill as both a furniture-maker and sculptor speaks of a life-long respect for his love of wood.
Rupert’s love of recycled and upcycled native timbers – often from old colonial New Zealand Houses – is apparent in everything he does. Treating his material with such gentle respect allows him to work with the wood to shape the form, and ultimately, the final outcome of the work.
A selection of Rupert’s Alpha series was chosen to appear at the Auckland Art Fair this year. A series of 24 individual pieces, the name references the Greek alphabet (all titles have a Greek letter) while also nodding towards the classically-inspired colonial heritage of these pieces, as they would have originally been used.
By cutting them, rearranging the forms, painting the exteriors, and staying true to his material at all times, there exists in every piece a familiarity – and yet something entirely new.
Rupert is also one of the star young designers featured in TVNZ’s Design Junkies, a new TV series where young designers put their skills on the line to compete to solve a set of challenges.
THE VIVIAN
Rupert's work from the Auckland Art Fair are available to view at The Vivian Gallery - Matakana, Auckland.
