The Halloween Party
Pippi Miller
Runs to March 28
Pippi Miller's first solo exhibition, The Halloween Party, is an exploration of snapshots in time. Some moments are taken from personal memories, and some are fictional. Influenced by the work of Joanna Margaret Paul, Miller’s work searches to depict the beauty of the mundane and the domestic. Additionally, Miller has a background in literature and children’s picture-books, leading her to explore how words and imagery work together. The incorporation of words into painting directs the understanding of the image, not solidifying its meaning, but instead suggesting to the viewer an avenue of interpretation. Gouache, which is used for much of her work, produces bright, clean colours, and is perfect for detail and sharp edges. The works of Dunedin painter Kushana Bush helped Miller to better understand the medium. When painting with oils, Miller noticed that transparent oils allowed for a sense of immediacy and freshness to enter the paintings, which suited her intention of representing moments in time. Looking at artists like Belgian painter Michael Borremans, and American figurative painter Jenna Gribbon, Miller wanted to let the layers of paint remain visible, drawing attention to the act of painting. The works for this exhibition are curated from throughout her recent MFA (2021-2023) at the Dunedin School of Art.