Cat Auburn, Untitled 1969 2010, miniature pony and handler, dimensions variable, COCA Gallery, Christchurch, May-June 2010, (photo courtesy RGCFA and COCA Gallery)

During 2010 Cat Auburn is undertaking the prestigious year-long Olivia Spencer Bower Fellowship residency for emerging artists in Christchurch.

Auburn also became a finalist in the Anthony Harper Award exhibition at COCA Gallery in Christchurch with a new project Untitled 1969 performed by national championship miniature pony “Maverick” and his handler Melissa; and was winner of the Press People's Choice Award.

The artist is conscious of various art historical precedents in this presentation of a live pony and handler. Auburn’s approach draws on a long tradition, perhaps commencing when artists of the Art Povera movement brought non-art, everyday objects into the fine arts realm. The project unsurprisingly has prompted questions of what art is. Further, Auburn has named the project after Jannis Kounellis’ work of 1969 in which he exhibited 12 live horses in a gallery in Rome, 1969.

The pony and handler are turned out in competition attire. As such they are presented as a performing duo that is being judged. For two hours in each day that the exhibition was open the pony and handler took their positions as an engaging and living expression of many of the themes that populate Cat Auburn’s work: grace, strength, training, competitive grooming and narratives associated with agricultural fairs and beauty competitions. The work therefore offers a personal commentary on anxiety and the artist’s need to perform; as well as talking about the artist’s rural background, and other art works from 2009 and earlier, such as the toffee apples and glass horse whips.

Cat Auburn, Untitled 1969 2010, miniature pony and handler, dimensions variable, COCA Gallery, Christchurch, May-June 2010, installation images during the Awards preview 25 May (photos by Rob Garrett)

Cat Auburn’s Rest Cure 2009 featured on the artist page in the March 2010 issue of 1am Magazine (online)

Rob Garrett Contemporary Fine Art is pleased to release two new editions of life-sized toffee apple sculptures by Cat Auburn.

Left: Show Hunter of the Year 1992 (Edition of 10, gloss red), dimensions: 340 x 110 x 110 mm (variable)
Centre & Right: Chalfont Candyman (Edition of 10, pearlescent white), dimensions: 340 x 110 x 110 mm (variable)

Many of Cat Auburn’s art works draw inspiration from her childhood and teenage experiences as a participant in show pony competitions at agricultural shows. Therefore they are loaded with associations of grace, strength, awkwardness and possible failure. Her toffee apples series come from the memory of girls a little older than her entering bikini contests in the pony competition intervals. Cat remembers the girls waiting their turn beside the beauty competition stage, eating toffee apples.

Each sculpture is made of resin, brass and auto paint. Each apple is hand-formed by the artist in resin and then individually painted and therefore each sculpture varies slightly in shape, size and the angle of the stalk.

We are taking orders for Chalfont Candyman for immediate delivery. Call now (+ 64 (0)21 586 900) or e-mail here to place your order. (Note: the Show Hunter of the Year edition is sold out.)

“Untitled (Giraffe-deer)” 2007, “Conjurers & Contortionists Series”, stainless steel and polystyrene, 2500 x 1800 x 1200 mm; private collection; and Cat Auburn in the studio with “Daisy and Violet Hilton” 2008, “Conjurers & Contortionists Series” (Photos © Cat Auburn and RGCFA)

Cat Auburn is a highly promising artist who works across a variety of mediums (including sculpture and video). She has been included in group shows including NZ Sculpture OnShore 2008 and her work is held in several private collections.

In November 2009 Auburn was announced the winner of the prestigious and highly coveted Olivia Spencer Bower Foundation Award, which includes a year-long residency in Christchurch. Auburn was chosen from a new record number of 128 applicants from around New Zealand and thus joins an illustrious alumnus of former winners including Pauline Rhodes (1987), Ruth Watson (1992), Chris Heaphy (1995) and Saskia Leek (1997).
Download the press release here…

Auburn graduated BFA and PG Diploma (with Distinction) in 2007 from Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland.