Marie Shannon: Love Notes, Courtenay Place Light Boxes
Courtenay Place Light Boxes
19 June – 19 December 2009
Marie Shannon: Love Notes (2005)
Our sincere condolences go to Marie Shannon, Leo Dashper, their whanau and friends on the recent passing of Julian Dashper. Marie, Julian and Leo’s love notes to each other are depicted within this body of work.
Sixteen private hand-written notes offer an unexpectedly intimate encounter within this large-scale public display. Marie Shannon’s Love Notes (2005) are a series of notes expressing love through various short-hand jottings, acronyms and more elaborate drawn compositions. Shannon’s photographs present tangible evidence of seemingly anonymous intimacy.
The eight double-sided illuminated light boxes located in Courtenay Place Urban Park are the dominant feature in a public space characterised by pedestrian transit and commercial exchange. Drawn from a collection of messages exchanged between the artist, her partner and their child, the notes can be understood within a biographical context, but they also have a more universal appeal. They provide an insight into how we use language to express affection and reflect upon the strength of the bond of love. This configuration of images draws upon an existing series of silver gelatin black and white photographs from 2005, which were exhibited within a gallery setting. These works have been reconfigured with the artist, for this new, enlarged, illuminated context.
The Courtenay Place Light Boxes were designed as part of the Courtney Place Urban Park, and were unveiled to Wellingtonians in May 2007. The first suite of sixteen works displayed in the light boxes Flanerie and Figments was curated by Simon Bush-King and Andy Palmer and featured eight Wellington artists working with photography. The second, Give Us A Sign, invited seven artists and/or graphic designers to contribute works responding to the call to ‘Give us a sign’. This round was also curated by Heather Galbraith of City Gallery Wellington, as part of the off-site programme during our building development . Each exhibition lasts for six months.
Curated by Heather Galbraith, Senior Curator / Manager Curatorial Programmes, City Gallery Wellington, Te Whare Toi
Proudly supported by the Wellington City Council Public Art Fund.
Click here for installation images
Click here for Biographical information about Marie Shannon
Click here for the Media Release