Join us for the opening of ‘Look Onto the Rays of the New Stoner Run Rising’ an exhibition of work by Ōtautahi / Christchurch based artist, Tim Middleton.

There shall be refreshments from 5pm, Friday 5th September. The exhibition runs September 5 - October 10, 2025.

“I am not a painter.

By declaring that, let me introduce a suite of paintings I have made. 

In the year 2012, I graduated from the University of Canterbury School of Fine Arts with a BFA (Hons) in sculpture. I rarely make sculpture.

This collection, freed from the confines of storage, is part of a current that runs throughout my practice and is centered around an expanded field of drawing. It just so happens these little guys are pigmented, which by their very nature, can be read as 'paintings'. If a label is needed. 

These drawn paintings scrutinise our, seemingly, accepted situation of looking at the pretty flames while ignoring the fire. War, famine, disease, death. . .apocalyptic, biblical themes that seem quite nourished and healthy in an epoch of a rapidly changing climate. Heavy themes, heavy times, but it has always been my wont to couch these very human issues in a polished haze of the comic book and gothic humour in free association with the scurf, grunge and detritus of the everyday.

And the title? That has been lifted from a song, Holy Mountain, by those Sabbath-esque doom-lords, Sleep, off their 1993 album 'Sleep's Holy Mountain'. Heavy metal entered my life when I was young and impressionable and along with surfing, ruined it. 

I am not a painter.”