Gary has been practicing visual art in Auckland for the last ten years. Working as a freelance graphic designer, curator and art director. In recent years, he has promoted and co-organized a series of exhibition events, all of which are highly focused on blurring
boundaries between art-forms. All the projects are aimed at inviting art makers from different backgrounds to be involved. They always carry a strong concept as well as a distinctive exhibition layout, designed to educate and enlighten, and explore the similarities and differences between creative disciplines.
Artbeatz Activate in March 2005 involves thirty-four visual practitioners based in the North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand, assembled to flex their skills devising imagery to go with music. A mix including graphic designers, photographers, graff writers and painters have matched themselves with pop/r’n’b, alternative/rock, hip hop/drum & bass and Maori/Pacific/Soul to create looks in those genres. The result is a collection of imaginary album art – non-specific CD slicks or LP jackets – displayed in four venues across Auckland to coincide with Resonate 2005.
Prior to that, Gary have event organized Eastern Translation, Subliminal Vandalism 1 and 2. All events were independent and were highly publicized.
2005 saw Gary work as an art-director and casting director for Che Fu’s music videos “Mysterious Vibe” and “Lightwork” and an opportunity to design and conceptualized Che fu’s album cover and inside booklet for “Beneath the Radar”. Other side projects include involvement in a few short film projects as a storyboard illustrator. Gary’s graphic design works included a series of exclusive designs for Workshop Denim 2004 limited summer prints and some artworks for their advertising campaign. He has also worked on some illustrations for Converse and Anti-P advertising campaigns, as well as an anti harassment campaign for AUT.
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