Odelle Morshuis
Masters in Fine Art, Wimbledon School of Art, London 2004
Bachelor of Art, Otago University N.Z.
Double major in Design and Art History, 1994-1997
Awards/ Competitions:
2021 Top 10 Christchurch Art Show
2019 Best Contemporary award at the Queenstown Art awards.
2019 Merit award at the Autumn Arts Festival
2016-19 Christchurch Art Show top 10 artists
2016 Aspiring Art Awards Finalist N.Z
2011 2013 2015 Central Otago Art awards Finalist N.Z.
2008 First prize, Dunedin Art Awards N.Z.
2006 First prize Hope and Sons Art Awards Dunedin, N.Z
2004 Wimbledon Art School Drawing prize 2nd U.K.
1999 'The Artist' magazine 2000 competition 2nd place, U.K.
1997 Mainland Art awards finalist, N.Z.
1997 Wearable Art awards finalist, N.Z.
Collections:
Dunedin Public Library
National Bank of New Zealand Collection, N.Z.
Dresdner Kleinwort Benson Collection, U.K.
Logica Collection, U.K.
Herbert Smith, London, U.K.
Chambers of Christopher Symons QC and
John Jarvis QC, Verulam Buildings, London, U.K.
Steptoe Johnson and Rakison, London, U.K.
Zinfandels Restaurant Guildford, Weybridge and Chobham, U.K.
Exhibitions (selected)
2022 Solo, "Just Visiting" Fox Galleries, Melbourne
2022 Group, 'In Contrast' Tirau gallery
2022 Auckland Art fair
2022 Christchurch Art Show
2022 NZ Art Show
2021 Christchurch Art Show
2020 2020 Christchurch and Auckland Art Fairs, online
2019 Melbourne Art Fair
2019 Carrick Winery
2018 Mt Difficulty Winery
2019 Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong
2019 Hoglunds glass art Gallery , Cromwell
2018 A muster of Artists, Central stories gallery Alexandra
2018 Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong
2014-18 Christchurch Art Fair
2014 Mint Gallery, Dunedin, NZ
2014 Frontroom Gallery Queenstown, NZ
2013-2005 annual, Hullabaloo Art Space, Cromwell, N.Z
2012 Central Otago Art Awards
2014 Kereru Gallery, Nelson
2013 Wellington Art Fair
2013 Hullabaloo Art Space Winter show
2013 Fluid, Queenstown
All of my work – 2D and 3D – draws on the human form to create a narrative that explores how we interact with the space around us. It acknowledges that every space has a history of movement – a complex integration of accumulation and change, transitioning and overlaying human activity through the lens of time.
My current work is made up of figurative pieces that through simplification of form, open up interpretations to the intricacies of human interactions. Human relationships do not occur in isolation, they unfold against the backdrop of our surroundings and circumstances. Some relationships deplete us, some feed us and as the complexities multiply, we project our personal histories, hope and desires through our body and movement in space. These elements are not separate to us – they are part of what make us individual.
The negative space in my sculptures represent human fragility –A precious space. The impression captured within the void alters – not only with time, but also with perspective. It is always changing, just as life is always changing. My pieces draw on all this changeability, when the figurative pieces stand together, they are populated by shadows. The imperfectly cut silhouettes, made from re-purposed steel are designed to magnify the inexact experience of what it is to be human.
I use plasma cutting and value the handmade quality the cut line leaves. As I breathe, my line wobbles; it rains, the sculpture rusts; the sun shines, it casts a shadow; it’s windy, the image in the negative space moves with me.