October 10 - October 10, 2020 Book launch exhibition

This is actually the third book on Paul’s work but they have all been really different. The first, produced in 2000, was really a monograph and it was assembled chronologically with a writer who was involved with Paul’s work in some way in each time block, writing a chapter. “The Large Works”, from 2012, was entirely different, put together with chapters that looked at understanding the role of sculpture (like in civic spaces, schools, private works, and so on). This book featured the NZ Memorial at Hyde Park in London which is probably Paul’s most well-known work. But the book “X” is a more intimate portrayal, it is a study of the last ten years, giving a great deal of insight into the working studio. Research is really just the lived experience of being in the workshop and helping make the works! But to help we keep a record of each work made so we can refer back. No proper process or routine. A body of work has fairly obvious points and commentary. Often I write down points and then figure ways to assemble and order it. Then I just pick away with the writing when I can, tidying up drafts until it sounds like something. Two important members of our team in making the book were Bateman who showed extraordinary amounts of trust, confidence and positivity and designer Hayden Doughty. Hayden is a very sensitive artist of his craft. He picks up on our ancient hands-on methods and translates this into print. I remember him once talking with me about the hours it takes to ‘undo’ what a computer does to try and make things reflect what art is. His use of gold foil within the book, on chapter headings and on end papers, made the book truly beautiful, reflecting its use in the kōwhai works. From booklovers Q and A excerpt