
BACKGROUND:
I
was born in Dunedin, New Zealand. I am of maori descent from the "Ngai
Tahu" tribe of the south island.
From an early age
I loved to draw and paint. I was six years old when I entered my first
art exhibition, and came 3rd in Otago. I have studied art throughout
primary and secondary schools, where I advanced to 7th year university
bursary level art studies and then attended the Dunedin School of Fine
Arts.
I have specialized in a field of art, that I have named "post modern
surrealism". The digital paintings viewed in the gallery are based
on drawings, oil paintings, and sculptures that I completed at art school,
and in private commissions. The artists that under pinned and influenced
my work are wide and varied, but for the sake of this consideration
I will briefly deal with those that have had the most impact on my surrealistic
development.
The two primary
founders of surrealism were Salvador Dali and Rene Magritte. Personally
I was moved by Magritte's work as I felt he remained true to the doctrines
of surrealism, (and his influence can be seen in suite 4) while Dali
began incorporating christian archetypes and symbolism into his paintings
which I felt had been over done during the churches dominance of artistic
patronage in previous centuries.
The contemporary New Zealand surrealist artist Brent Wong has had a
dramatic impact on my work and has influenced my style and development.
His large scale architectural sculptures floating above contemporary
landscapes struck a deep cord in me. Part of my being sung out in total
awe of these paintings and I celebrate the dramatic impact that this
artist has had on my work by listing his influence in suite 1 and incorporating
these surrealistic motif's in my logo.
The sculptural
works of Alexandra Liberman has also had a dramatic effect, which can
be seen in suite 3.
A more detailed description of primary and secondary influences will
be considered on the "influences"page.

PROPRIETOR / ARTIST:
PETER MATHIAS
MISSION STATEMENT
AND VISION:
My work is not merely about pretty pictures that you may want to hang
on your wall. It's about another perspective. It is my intention to
help serve the process of replacing the current core assumptions that
lie at the center of western civilization.
It is the disposition of "GROSS MATERIALISM." The assumption
that everything is reducible to the physical world ONLY, that has corrupted
everything!
It is the foundation upon which our science is conducted. Our politics.
Our economics. Even our
social interactions. We see each oter as separate and isolated. Hence
it defines the way we treat and relate to one another. The way we see
ourselves and the world around us. It underpins our mode of operation!
It is killing everything, our spirit, our dreams, and the dreams of
our children!
I offer a different
vision. A counter point to this dark interpretation of life, that is
forced down our throats. With 27 years of observational studies, I have
embraced the concept of Kulturphilosoph, a German term that literally
means "cultural philosopher."
I am a student of oil painting, sculpture, literature, poetry, psychology,
the occult, eastern spirituality, and western science. I have lived
and worked in 5 countries in the south pacific, and was initiated by
a Siddha Master, Adi Da Samraji in 1998.
I embrace and celebrate
life, with the understanding that you become what you meditate upon.
The images in my art are life positive, full of space and light.
They silently communicate the underlying sea of infinite energy. Of
interconnectedness. Of Prior Unity.
Of Relatedness, not separateness merely trying to survive.
A new vision for our children. Based not only on ancient wisdom, but
confirmed through our latest discoveries.
There are 12 suites comprising 200 digital paintings, all dealing with
a surrealistic theme.
Surrealism deals with images
from our subconscious, the familiar and the unknown.
That which is hidden, almost accessible, yet lying just beneath the
surface.
It is the interface between the seen and unseen, that I truly find exciting.
The 3rd dimensional world we are so familiar with. That sees everything
as separate and isolated.
And the 4th dimensional realm that sees everything as one. Everything
as energy.
Using the juxtaposition of objects within contexts that are real yet
unreal.
Impossible shapes and forms suspended above realistic landscapes.
Volumetric displacement, and the deliberate use of accentuated scale.
Pushing the viewer beyond
what he has been led and told to believe.
Each digital painting
or Gliche' is available for purchase and will be limited to 10 prints
using archival pigmented inks rated at 120 years.
