September 5 - September 26, 2026
Installation view - front gallery
Tjalling de Vries returns to his old metier, printmaking, in this new exhibition Edit/Tide.
Trained initially by the late, great Barry Cleavin at the University of Canterbury School of Art, Ilam,
de Vries later graduated MFA in 2011.
The starting point here are the quiet patterns of water in Lyttelton Harbour, the port town in which
de Vries resides. The rhythms of water are captured with a fluidity unexpected in the medium of
woodcuts. Each work comprises two blocks almost in mirror image. There is a little slippage and
definitely a horizon line – the sense of straight reflection teased a touch, flattened and given a little
torque. The gentle repetition of marks and patterns has a musical cadence.
The installation in the back gallery, Sing Heart String, is a tribute to Henri Kerr, a dear friend of mine and Tjalling’s who died very recently.
Tjalling’s field recording of water and port noise, twelve minutes in length, is played through Henri’s twelve string guitar and then (distorted further) through his amp.
Across the printed works there are also subtle changes of tone between the two blocks in each. The palette is richer for
the texture of woodgrain and black that seeps through laid down colours in oily ink.
Ripples upon water have long been fertile ground in art. de Vries offers a nocturne, a sunrise and
even cartoon-classic raindrops. But the understated elegance and finesse of these works is simply
outstanding – each in their fine wooden frame.
JS.
Installation view - front gallery
Installation view - front gallery
Installation view - front gallery
Installation view - front gallery
Installation view - front gallery
Installation view - Ocean Mirror Canon - 14:47:47 & 13:32:39
Installation view - rear gallery
Sing Heart String, 2026 - monoprint
Installation view - Sing Heart String, 2026
Installation view - rear gallery
Images of all exhibited works are to be found in the 'Details of works' section at the bottom of the page.
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| Ocean Mirror Canon - 18:11:42, 2026 | Ocean Mirror Canon - 13:31:16, 2026 |
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| Ocean Mirror Canon - 17:43:09, 2026 | Ocean Mirror Canon - 12:39:51, 2026 |
Sing Heart String, 2026 sound installation, with Henri Kerr's guitar and amp
Ocean Mirror Canon - 14:47:47, 2026
2026
mono & woodblock prints on cotton rag
1060 x 765
Exhibited in
Edit / Tide
2026
mono & woodblock prints on cotton rag
1060 x 765
Exhibited in
Edit / Tide
2026
mono & woodblock prints on cotton rag
1060 x 765
Exhibited in
Edit / Tide
2026
mono & woodblock prints on cotton rag
1060 x 765
Exhibited in
Edit / Tide
2026
mono & woodblock prints on cotton rag
1060 x 765
Exhibited in
Edit / Tide
2026
mono & woodblock prints on cotton rag
1060 x 765
Exhibited in
Edit / Tide
2026
mono & woodblock prints on cotton rag
1060 x 765
Exhibited in
Edit / Tide
2026
mono & woodblock prints on cotton rag
1060 x 765
Exhibited in
Edit / Tide
2026
mono & woodblock prints on cotton rag
1060 x 765
Exhibited in
Edit / Tide
2026
Henri Kerr's guitar and amp with framed monoprint, & field recording - 12 mins length
variable
Exhibited in
Edit / Tide