Homestyle New Zealand

Artist profile

Artist and framer Tom Mackie’s work draws attention to what might otherwise go unnoticed.

- INTERVIEW Alice Lines PHOTOGRAPH­Y Simon Wilson

Tom Mackie.

After completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in printmakin­g, a lack of money and equipment saw Wellington’s Tom Mackie fortuitous­ly move from creating works on paper to experiment­ing with sculpture. For his early exhibition­s, he created site-specific works that highlighte­d galleries’ inherent qualities and celebrated their subtleties — works that sat in corners, for instance. He’s since experiment­ed with a wide range of mediums, but keeps coming back to exploring a hybrid of print and sculptural, reworking found and readymade materials to evoke new narratives and draw attention to what often goes unseen. Right now, his work questions how the painting and picture frame work cohesively together.

So the painting came before the sculptural exploratio­n?

Yes, but I’d overthink it and question my hand in the making. I’m more interested in conceptual painting — transformi­ng materials and objects into visual puzzles that question our understand­ing of paintings.

Talk us through how these 2D and 3D elements come together in your work…

Through my work in the picture-framing trade, I began exploring what the fabricatio­n of an artwork means. A frame is typically the final step in presenting a work, but for me, the frame is often the more important part. I like to draw attention to what viewers often look past.

And you use a lot of repurposed materials?

I use wooden offcuts and found objects to reinvent the frame, then pair this with discarded paintings or canvas objects that I rework to show the hand or craft of the maker. An example of this is inverting an old painting to show markings on the underside that were never intended to be seen, allowing viewers to slow down and think about more than just what’s on the surface.

Where do you work from?

I mostly work from my inner-city studio. A regular art-making day usually starts with coffee with an artist friend, which helps to kick-start my creativity. Then I settle into the quiet and still of my studio, where I can concentrat­e on research and constructi­on. I often have a lot of noise in my head, so I find comfort in the quiet, and I think that’s reflected in my work.

What other spots in the area do you like to hit up?

My studio’s close to Cuba and Ghuznee streets, which are home to my favourite café, Milk Crate, and independen­t galleries like McLeavey, Robert Heald and Precinct 35.

How do you split your time between your art making and your fine art framing business?

My framing business, Elliot Creative, keeps me busy behind the tools at least four days a week, but also provides me with a good amount of quiet time to think about what I want to create. It’s always hard to find the perfect balance between the two, but I’m grateful the business allows me to work with so many amazing artists, curators and collectors.

You have a show coming up at SPA_CE in Napier in December — is there a specific theme this body of work is shaped around?

I’m very excited to be working with SPA_CE’s Megan Poppelwell for my exhibition. My ongoing ideas explore slowing down the process of looking and evoking new narratives. The works will be playful yet structured, with elements of humour. I’m looking forward to constructi­ng a show that’ll end the year on a high.

What else is on your agenda this summer?

My wife Meg and I are hosting our family on Christmas Day for the first time, then we’re off to find a secluded camping spot in which to welcome in the new year. Here’s hoping next year is a little less dramatic than this one’s been. tommackie.net; thisisspac­e.co.nz

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Tom in his studio making finishing touches by waxing a timber frame. OPPOSITE “Works often take months or years to resolve, so I hang them on the wall to contemplat­e,” says Tom. “Most ideas are discarded, but it’s the moment that a work or object has the energy to levitate that keeps me coming back for more.” He says when he hits a creative block, “removing myself mentally or physically is the only way I can overcome it. Heading somewhere remote without my phone helps, as does reading or listening to podcasts.”
ABOVE Tom in his studio making finishing touches by waxing a timber frame. OPPOSITE “Works often take months or years to resolve, so I hang them on the wall to contemplat­e,” says Tom. “Most ideas are discarded, but it’s the moment that a work or object has the energy to levitate that keeps me coming back for more.” He says when he hits a creative block, “removing myself mentally or physically is the only way I can overcome it. Heading somewhere remote without my phone helps, as does reading or listening to podcasts.”
 ??  ?? TOP Posterior ll, 2019, made with found jute fabric in a hand-carved wooden frame. ABOVE RIGHT Tom’s been in this studio for a year and loves its central location and natural light. Here, he’s stretching canvas on his work table. The artwork on the left of the wall behind him is Hands & Knees by Mary Teague, an Australian artist whose work he was introduced to by a friend. He says, “It’s a luxury to be surrounded by great artworks every day that inspire me to think and create.“
TOP Posterior ll, 2019, made with found jute fabric in a hand-carved wooden frame. ABOVE RIGHT Tom’s been in this studio for a year and loves its central location and natural light. Here, he’s stretching canvas on his work table. The artwork on the left of the wall behind him is Hands & Knees by Mary Teague, an Australian artist whose work he was introduced to by a friend. He says, “It’s a luxury to be surrounded by great artworks every day that inspire me to think and create.“
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