About Roger Murray

Discovery

Having studied Fine Arts at ASA from 1989, majoring in sculpture and film, Roger Murray exhibited in early days at the ASA exhibitions and had work accepted into the Wallace Awards. Throughout the following years Roger showed in various group exhibitions at Fisher Gallery and had short films excepted into many International film festivals. In 1995 he ended up going into the film industry and starting his own company Main Reactor, one of New Zealand's leading props, prosthetics and make-up effects studios.

Decades on, Roger has now turned his attention back to the art world. Wielding an impressive range of technical knowledge and understanding of diverse mediums, the artist creates abstract reliefs which marry natural elements with brutalist composition and form.

Thematically, his art explore ideas surrounding the sublimity of interconnectedness and harmony of mathematical theory. From simple geometries, the sculptures grow into complex configurations which intersect, entwine, and oscillate together, meditating on the unseen forces that hold our world together and pull it apart.

Underlying the patterns and materials is palpable tension: wood bent to its breaking point, curving in endless knots and undulating surfaces which strain toward a sense of motion usually beyond the capabilities of inert material. Roger offsets this tension with fluidity of form, reflective surfaces, and calculated precision.

' I’m always striving to awaken a deep appreciation for the beauty and mysteries of existence, inviting viewers to embark on their own personal journey of self-discovery and spiritual connection'.

Procession, the idea of continuous movement, rhythmic cycles and the passage of time was the unifying thread that brought together the new works created for Roger Murray’s latest exhibition. Ideas around technology, spirituality and the physical nature of wood converging all feature in this new collection of wall mounted sculptures.

By basing the design of the sculpture on the principals of sacred geometry, an additional layer of significance is added to the theme of procession. The inherent mathematical proportions found in sacred geometric shapes are emblematic of the divine order permeating the universe. Once these symbolic forms are incorporated into the sculptures, Murray aims to convey a sense of harmony, rhythm, and balance.

'I’ve always been fascinated by the intersection of art and technology. In the last year, I have become increasingly interested in the use of machine learning and fluid dynamics; specifically in the creation of sculptures that evoke the beauty and complexity of natural phenomena'.

Through the use of machine learning and fluid dynamics, Murray aims to emulate the ebb and flow of natural processes, reflecting the ever-changing cycles found in the world around us. By playing with algorithms that respond to subtle variations, Murray has generated sculptures that embody a sense of perpetual motion, evoking the feeling of being caught in the midst of a grand cosmic procession.

This new body of work sees the introduction of resin combined with metallic powder applied to the surface of some works, which simulate the movement of water or air, thus capturing the fluidity and dynamism of nature’s processes. It also allows Murray to explore the interplay between order and chaos, with the surfaces creating both patterns and irregularities. Other pieces in the series are fabricated from carefully selected wood, and are treated in a way that enhances the unique history and character of each piece.

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Artist Statement