Justin Boroughs: Recent Painting / 1 - 25 July 2008

One of only a small number of contemporary realist painters, the works of Auckland-based landscape painter Justin Boroughs are characterised by fine draughtsmanship, meticulous technique, evocative use of light, and particularly a focus on well-known locations and landscapes around New Zealand.

In this new collection of works, harbour and coastal scenes dominate. Each panorama depicts familiar locations in and around the Hauraki Gulf, Karekare (West Auckland), Maungakiekie (formerly One Tree Hill, Auckland) and Karaka Bay (Wellington). Rather than being quaint tourist images, these paintings are hyper real interpretations which effectively capture the atmospheric conditions and subtle variances in light and shade that fluctuate according to the time of day. Although devoid of figures, signs of human presence are evident within the compositions, most typically in the form of boats, houses, churches or boatsheds.

Boroughs is in a sense re-ordering the world, re-presenting it to the viewer as a somewhat romanticised, nostalgic (even Arcadian) environment. This is achieved in part by composing his works in keeping with many of the ideals of classical painters (he cites Poussin as a major influence). Here, Boroughs seeks balance and harmony in the construction of his paintings, which affect in the viewer a profound sense of equanimity. Combining a mixture of realist conventions including detailed observation and idealisation the artist also employs a luminous palette and high key lighting to produce works of exceptional clarity.