Simon Morris

Pause

Simon Morris' paintings Pause 4.5 and Pause 5.5 explore pattern and sequencing. He has painted them carefully by hand, but the patterns themselves have been generated by a mathematical formula. Side by side, the paintings – from Morris’ ongoing ‘Pause’ series – demonstrate subtle shifts in rhythm and composition.

Describing his approach to painting, Morris says, ‘Although I might develop a drawing or the idea in my mind, when I’m actually there in front of the painting, things happen that I’d never expect and that’s a wonderful part of it. That sense of surprise.’

Morris is one of New Zealand’s leading contemporary abstract painters. Te Papa has a number of his works.

Watch an interview with Simon Morris

This text was prepared for the Collecting Contemporary exhibition, December 2011.