Julian Dashper

A DigitalNZ Story by Courtney Johnston

Dear Julian, Putting together this set has made me realise what a colourist you were. I've always thought you had an exquisite appreciation of form, but I never realised quite how amazingly you can summon a riot of colour (not just the tonal harmonies and disharmonies of the drumskins, which I know well, but the paintboxy early works, which I am less familiar with). I still miss you, you know. The last few months in particular, I have wanted to take you out, eat far too much cake, and talk to you about what's been going on. I missed your enfant terrible stage; instead, I got you when you were all grace and wisdom (and mad giggling). It would have been so good to have had that around me. I make up for this in two ways. First, by dropping you into conversation wherever possible. I am particularly fond of quoting you on the velvet paintings - both "they were all made by holding the tube and squeezing it. So I never touched or embraced the painting. I could have made them wearing three piece suits. They were like lies in terms of artistic expression or angst." and "People say my paintings are deep the way they say fat people are heavy." I have even considered the second as a tattoo - but I think it would be misconstrued. Second, I carry one of your flattened Marfa pennies with me in my jeans pockets. Every so often my fingers steal in and I touch it and I make a wish. Small wishes, not big ones - I don't want to overload the penny. But I thought you'd like to know that.

painting, new zealand art, sculpture, conceptual art, prankster, i miss you

Image: Purple rain at Glorit

Purple rain at Glorit

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Young Nick's Head

Young Nick's Head

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Untitled

Untitled

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: The Colin McCahons

The Colin McCahons

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: The Anguses

The Anguses

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: The Woollastons

The Woollastons

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: The Hoteres

The Hoteres

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: The Drivers

The Drivers

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Regent

Regent

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: The Land of Opportunity

The Land of Opportunity

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Regent

Regent

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Clam

Clam

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Chain Frame

Chain Frame

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Cass Altarpiece

Cass Altarpiece

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Study Drawing For 'Cass Altarpiece'

Study Drawing For 'Cass Altarpiece'

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Study Drawing For 'Cass Altarpiece'

Study Drawing For 'Cass Altarpiece'

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Study Drawing For 'Cass Altarpiece'

Study Drawing For 'Cass Altarpiece'

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Untitled (1991)

Untitled (1991)

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Anglican Church at Matauri Bay

Anglican Church at Matauri Bay

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: 1989 Painting (philishave)

1989 Painting (philishave)

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Tolaga Bay at Fergusson Wharf

Tolaga Bay at Fergusson Wharf

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: 29.3.89 - 3.4.89

29.3.89 - 3.4.89

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Untitled (2006)

Untitled (2006)

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Untitled (2006)

Untitled (2006)

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Untitled (2005-06)

Untitled (2005-06)

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: The Woollastons

The Woollastons

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: The Colin McCahons

The Colin McCahons

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: The Hoteres

The Hoteres

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: The Drivers

The Drivers

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: The Anguses

The Anguses

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Mural for a contemporary house (no. 4)

Mural for a contemporary house (no. 4)

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Untitled (1996)

Untitled (1996)

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Untitled (1996)

Untitled (1996)

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Untitled (1996)

Untitled (1996)

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Untitled (1997)

Untitled (1997)

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: The grey in Grey Lynn

The grey in Grey Lynn

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Untitled (1995)

Untitled (1995)

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Untitled (1991)

Untitled (1991)

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Party at the Mondrian Hotel

Party at the Mondrian Hotel

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki