25 November 2012

Battle squirrels and combat frogs

The Gloaming
by Johnny Fraser-Allan
New Zealand Portrait Gallery
24 November - 6 December 2012
Free exhibition

A quick visit to the New Zealand Portrait Gallery on the Wellington waterfront this afternoon was rewarded with an excellent free exhibition of sculptures and concept art that Weta Workshop's Johnny Fraser-Allan has produced for his 'The Gloaming' project. The artworks are intricately detailed, carefully and precisely produced and thoroughly realistic in appearance. In viewing the exhibition I had assumed that it was a tie-in for an American or British series of children's books, or perhaps for a fantasy movie in the spirit of The Dark Crystal, but it seems not - the creatures exist only in Fraser-Allan's workshop and in his imagination. But surely the potential for a great story is obvious to all involved in the exhibition - just get a Hollywood exec in the same room as these beautiful, whimsical and engaging artworks and a huge movie deal should be inevitable. Someone make it happen!

Note: All artworks are copyright Richard Taylor. Images are reproduced here to encourage you to visit the exhibition. If there are any official objections to their presence here, please leave a comment.

Please also note the presence of a fearsome pinecone armour-clad Battle Squirrel, who deserves his own show. (Click photos to enlarge).

A bloody great dragon, having a dragon snooze



Badger badger badger!

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