TJ McNAMARA

…At Auckland’s Art Galleries

WEEKEND HERALD, Saturday 27 August 2016

In a display of virtuosity, Siavash Momeny paints all manner of objects as if they were wrapped in newsprint. The reason is most clear in a tribute to Jonah Lomu incorporating a guitar.

For sheer oddity of expression, though done with virtuosity and extreme care, there are few artists whose practice equals the paintings by Siavash Momeny. He paints all his subjects as if they were wrapped in newspaper.

There is only one exception in his current show and it is of a large crumpled page of plain paper, but it has the same careful attention and virtuosity as the newsprint in the other works.

What is the viewer to make of these chairs, stag’s head and coffee pots startlingly and realistically wrapped up?

One work is slightly less enigmatic than the others. Titled Eleven 11 it shows a guitar wrapped in paper that has a large area of black. It is a tribute to Lomu, who wore the No. 11 jersey, as an All Black. The whole is a curious by way of painting with a flavour all its own.

ILLUSTRATED: Siavash Momeny | Casino Royale | Acrylic on canvas, 1200 x 1500 mm

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: TJ McNamara, Weekend Herald, Saturday, August 27, 2016