Maurice Lye
I'm a scavenger, forever on the lookout for situations that appeal to my vision, sense of humour and irony. How people affect their environment, the traces they leave and their responses to the creatures and plants we co-habit with, intrigues me and provides fertile ground for exploration
BIO: Maurice Lye
Born Christchurch, New Zealand.
1971: Started getting into photography. Learned the basics of developing and printing black & white photographs.
1976: Third place in 'The lford Shield' (national secondary schools photo competition)
1977-78: Graphic Design course at Christchurch Technical Institute. Here I was introduced to the work of the great American large format photographers of the 1930s and 40s, Edward Weston, Ansel Adams, Walker Evans, etc. This era also helped me learn the finer points of what was technically possible and achievable. Aside from photography I was also tuning my eye to what makes good graphic design.
1979: Photographed for and designed promotional brochures for Christchurch Polytechnic. 'Fragments' a series of small black & white images of scenes and places that amuse me. CSA Gallery, Christchurch. Photographed various rock bands for Rip it Up magazine.
1980: Printed colour photographs for Murray Hedwig as part of 'The Street' show at the Robert McDougall Art Gallery, Christchurch.
1980-82: Finished Graphic Artist at Carlton Carruthers du Chateau Advertising.
1981: 'Forms In Light' exhibition with Kevin Capon. This was a mixture of colour and black & white photos, strongly influenced by Edward Weston. CSA Gallery.
1982-83 Formed 'Skylight Photography' with Kevin Capon, specialising in work for advertising agencies and freelance graphic designers.
1983-92: Visual Aids Technician/Photographer, Christchurch Polytechnic. Photographed art works for local artists, for publications including Art New Zealand .
1988: 'Portraits, Colour Photographs' exhibition a series of 16 x 20 inch colour images of people in a place they enjoyed doing something that had special significance for them. CSA Gallery, Christchurch. Attended Richard Misrach workshop, panel member alongside Murray Hedwig and Bruce Foster of a videoed discussion about the Richard Misrach exhibition 'Desert Cantos,' Robert McDougall Art Gallery, Christchurch. This video was shown during the exhibition.
1990: 'Intrusions' exhibition a collection of 16 x 20 inch colour photos taken over several years showing the way people affect the environment they live in. CSA Gallery, Christchurch. Became disillusioned with solo exhibitions, due to lack of critical feedback.
1992-Now: Graphic Designer, Christchurch Polytechnic. Becoming very familiar with Photoshop.
2000: Three images selected for inclusion in PhotoForum's web exhibition 'The Active Eye,' a survey of New Zealand Photography.
2002: Created a series of work called 'Precious' which was a response to a brain tumour surgery the previous year. The images were a combination of naked bodies and the landscape of Birdlings Flat, a barren shingle beach near Christchurch. Featured in ' Takahe 47' magazine.
2004: Began digitally scanning much of my older work.
2006: Attended 'No Borders No Boundaries' workshop at Auckland University of Technology with Peter Bialobrzeski and Antoine d'Agata run by Harvey Benge. Five cyanotype images selected for Alternatives 06, Quay School of Art, Wanganui
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