Bill Culbert Black, Day, Light (detail), 2004, fluorescent lights, electrical cords, plastic bottles, 50 x 400 x 600 cm

Bill Culbert Black, Day, Light (detail), 2004, fluorescent lights, electrical cords, plastic bottles, 50 x 400 x 600 cm

Since the late 1960s, Culbert has made minimal sculptures that refer to both the physics and metaphysics of light. Fluorescent tubes pierce plastic vessels, illuminating them from within. Culbert's bottles are containers of light, their interiors, their thickness and the secrets of their construction revealed. The simple and definite materiality of Culbert's objects is given an extra dimension by their ghost-like emanation.

Exhibition Dates: 25 March – 17 April 2004

Bill Culbert's first exhibition with Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery includes a number of new sculptures made of plastic bottles and fluorescent tubes as well as a large group of small black and white photographs taken over the past forty years.

Since the late 1960s, Culbert has made minimal sculptures that refer to both the physics and metaphysics of light. Fluorescent tubes pierce plastic vessels, illuminating them from within. Culbert's bottles are containers of light, their interiors, their thickness and the secrets of their construction revealed. The simple and definite materiality of Culbert's objects is given an extra dimension by their ghost-like emanation. They are factual in their material presence and metaphoric in their allusion to the natural world. Using generic, ready-made, mass-produced components, Culbert creates assemblages that are modular and monochromatic. These two aspects of his work establish his signature and aesthetic rhythm. When colour does appear in his sculptures, as it does in the bottles and caps of some of the smaller works in this exhibition, the attractive optical quality of colour is opposed to the dazzlingly luminous presence of actual light. Light, that which enables vision is also that which cannot properly be looked at.

The large, architectonic floor piece, Black, Day, Light, with its luminous, branching vertebrae around which is loosely massed a collection of dense black bottles is like some monumental, photosynthetic leaf form. The series of Black on White wall pieces, 4-bottle modules partly painted black, suggest the passing shadow phases of a lunar cycle. They are both light emitting and light blocking. Culbert's photographs (shadows fixed on light-sensitive paper) deal with objects and light similarly to his sculptures, focusing on both objects subject to light effects and other curiosities.

Bill Culbert has been exhibiting his sculptures and photographs in the United Kingdom, Europe, USA, New Zealand and Australia for over forty years. A major exhibition of his work was held by City Gallery Wellington in 1997. Culbert was included in Toi Toi Toi: 3 Generations of New Zealand Art at the Art Museum Fredericianum in Kassel Germany in 1999 and in the 1990 Biennale of Sydney (curated by Renee Block). In 2002 he exhibited in the Second Asia-Pacific Triennial with a joint work with Ralph Hotere (with whom Culbert has done a number of collaborative works). Culbert has completed numerous major public commissions, recent examples include a large neon work for the PriceWaterhouseCoopers Tower in Auckland, and Skyline for the Millenium Dome in London. Since 1957, Culbert has divided his time between London and France. Daylight and Nightlight is Bill Culbert's first exhibition with Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery.

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Bill Culbert Dawn, 2004; fluorescent lights, electrical cords, plastic bottles; 25 x 61 x 6 cm; enquire
Dawn, 2004
fluorescent lights, electrical cords, plastic bottles
25 x 61 x 6 cm
Bill Culbert Bleach, 2004; fluorescent lights, electrical cords, plastic bottles; 21 x 61 x 8 cm; enquire
Bleach, 2004
fluorescent lights, electrical cords, plastic bottles
21 x 61 x 8 cm
Bill Culbert Eco, 2004; fluorescent lights, electrical cords, plastic bottles; 21 x 61 x 5 cm; enquire
Eco, 2004
fluorescent lights, electrical cords, plastic bottles
21 x 61 x 5 cm
Bill Culbert Clorox, 2004; fluorescent lights, electrical cords, plastic bottles; 22 x 61 x 7 cm; enquire
Clorox, 2004
fluorescent lights, electrical cords, plastic bottles
22 x 61 x 7 cm
Bill Culbert Black on White VI, 2004; fluorescent lights, electrical cords, plastic bottles, acrylic paint; 58 x 62 x 13 cm; enquire
Black on White VI, 2004
fluorescent lights, electrical cords, plastic bottles, acrylic paint
58 x 62 x 13 cm
Bill Culbert White Reflection, 2004; fluorescent lights, electrical cords, plastic bottles; enquire
White Reflection, 2004
fluorescent lights, electrical cords, plastic bottles
Bill Culbert White Shadow II, 2004; fluorescent lights, electrical cords, plastic bottles; 62 x 58 x 13 cm; enquire
White Shadow II, 2004
fluorescent lights, electrical cords, plastic bottles
62 x 58 x 13 cm
Bill Culbert Black on White V, 2004; fluorescent lights, electrical cords, plastic bottles, acrylic paint; 58 x 62 x 13 cm; enquire
Black on White V, 2004
fluorescent lights, electrical cords, plastic bottles, acrylic paint
58 x 62 x 13 cm
Bill Culbert Black on White I - IV, 2004; fluorescent lights, electrical cords, plastic bottles, acrylic paint; dimensions variable; enquire
Black on White I - IV, 2004
fluorescent lights, electrical cords, plastic bottles, acrylic paint
dimensions variable
Bill Culbert Black, Day, Light, 2004; fluorescent lights, electrical cords, plastic bottles; 50 x 400 x 600 cm; enquire
Black, Day, Light, 2004
fluorescent lights, electrical cords, plastic bottles
50 x 400 x 600 cm
Bill Culbert Black�s Point, New Zealand, 1990; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Black�s Point, New Zealand, 1990
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Sugar, Kitchen, France, 1981; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Sugar, Kitchen, France, 1981
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Light Box, France, 1989; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Light Box, France, 1989
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Kai Kai, New Zealand, 1990; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Kai Kai, New Zealand, 1990
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Two Lampshade Frames, France, 2002; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Two Lampshade Frames, France, 2002
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Reefton Power Station, New Zealand, 1978; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Reefton Power Station, New Zealand, 1978
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Light, Croagnes, France, 1980; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Light, Croagnes, France, 1980
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Table Lamp 5, France, 1996; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Table Lamp 5, France, 1996
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Window Light Outside, France, 1980; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Window Light Outside, France, 1980
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Wine in Perspective, France, 1996; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Wine in Perspective, France, 1996
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Jug I, France, 1990; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Jug I, France, 1990
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Interior with corkscrew and lamp, France, 2002; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Interior with corkscrew and lamp, France, 2002
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Yellow Jug, France, 2002; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Yellow Jug, France, 2002
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Bonbonne with Landscape, France, 2002; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Bonbonne with Landscape, France, 2002
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Lampshades in Sun, France, 2002; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Lampshades in Sun, France, 2002
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Decanter, London, 1985; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Decanter, London, 1985
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Wine Work, France, 1992; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Wine Work, France, 1992
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert First Electricity, Reefton N.Z,� New Zealand, 1978; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
First Electricity, Reefton N.Z,� New Zealand, 1978
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Ferme, Garage, France, 2002; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Ferme, Garage, France, 2002
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Table & Chair, France, 2002; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Table & Chair, France, 2002
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Wet Plastic Bottle, France, 2002; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Wet Plastic Bottle, France, 2002
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Broom against Wall, France, 2002; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Broom against Wall, France, 2002
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Lampshades, London, 1990; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Lampshades, London, 1990
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Black�s Point, New Zealand, 1990; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Black�s Point, New Zealand, 1990
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Jug, Croagnes, 1980; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Jug, Croagnes, 1980
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Lampshade Frames, France, 2002; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Lampshade Frames, France, 2002
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Cave de Lumi�re, France, 2002; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Cave de Lumi�re, France, 2002
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Wall Light, France, 2002; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Wall Light, France, 2002
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Lampshades, France, 1992; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Lampshades, France, 1992
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Hotel, Florence, 1992; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Hotel, Florence, 1992
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Jug with Sunspot, France, 1980; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Jug with Sunspot, France, 1980
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Jug, window pane, France, 1980; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Jug, window pane, France, 1980
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Jug II, France, 1990; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Jug II, France, 1990
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Wine Bonbonne with Oak Tree, France, 2002; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Wine Bonbonne with Oak Tree, France, 2002
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Wine Real, France, 1996; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Wine Real, France, 1996
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Wine glass with window, France, 2002; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Wine glass with window, France, 2002
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Lit Bulb, France, 1990; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Lit Bulb, France, 1990
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Small glass pouring Light, France, 1997; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Small glass pouring Light, France, 1997
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Frosted Bulb in Sun, London, 1979; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Frosted Bulb in Sun, London, 1979
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Chimney Light, Les Geraniums, France, 1976; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Chimney Light, Les Geraniums, France, 1976
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Almond Tree, France, 2002; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Almond Tree, France, 2002
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Car Tyre Mat, France, 2002; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Car Tyre Mat, France, 2002
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Two Rabbit Corkscrews, France, 2002; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Two Rabbit Corkscrews, France, 2002
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Ouvert, France, 2002; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Ouvert, France, 2002
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25
Bill Culbert Light bulb in Stone, London, 1990; silver gelatin prints; 40.5 x 40.5 cm; Edition of 25; enquire
Light bulb in Stone, London, 1990
silver gelatin prints
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Edition of 25