Neon Parc | Dan Arps

Dan Arps was born 1976 Ōtautahi, Aotearoa, New Zealand. Lives and works in Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Dan Arps’ installations, sculptures, and paintings respond to urban psycho-geography of cities. His work reflects on the way we inhabit places and the influence of architecture on the formation and regulation of subjectivities.

In 2010 he was awarded Aotearoa New Zealand’s premier contemporary art award, the Walter’s Prize, for his exhibition Explaining Things by international judge Vicente Todolí. Arps has exhibited extensively in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia, as well as taking part in multiple international projects.

Selected works (27)

Exhibitions (5)

‘Parallel Universe’
Brunswick
7 Oct.–5 Nov.
2022

‘Plastic Mouth Feel’
City
10 Feb.–13 Mar.
2015

‘Abstracts and Vision Statements’
City
1 May.–25 May.
2012

‘Toyota Corolla’
City
3 Mar.–27 Mar.
2009

‘Motivation Bunker’
City
3 Jun.–11 Jul.
2008

Curriculum vitae (PDF)

Recent Solo Exhibitions

2024: ‘Studio Paranoia’, Whangārei Art Museum, Whangārei
2023: ‘Nirvana Park’, Michael Lett 3 East St, Auckland
2022: ‘Parallel Universe’, Neon Parc, Melbourne
2021: ‘The New Brutal’, Disneyland Paris, Melbourne, Australia; ‘The Floral Maze’, Michael Lett, Auckland, New Zealand; ‘Sleepers’, Robert Heald, Wellington, New Zealand
2020: ‘White Paintings’, Michael Lett, Auckland, New Zealand; ‘The Hermetic Playa’, Sydneysydney, Sydney, Australia
2019: ‘Overproof Recombinants’, Robert Heald, Wellington, New Zealand; ‘The Orchid and the Wasp’, Robert Heald, Wellington, New Zealand, curated by Dan Arps
2017: ‘Nested Cells’, Michael Lett, Auckland, New Zealand; ‘Tinnitus Miracle’, Robert Heald, Wellington, New Zealand
2016: ‘Plastic Mouthfeel III’, Te Uru, Auckland, New Zealand
2015: ‘3 in the morning part 2’, Minerva, Sydney; ‘3AM ETERNAL’, Robert Heald Gallery, Wellington Plastic Mouth Feel II, Michael Lett, Auckland; ‘Plastic Mouth Feel’, Neon Parc, Melbourne Appococycollapsed, Ilam Campus Gallery, Christchurch
2014: ‘Snakes, tanks and drapes’, Robert Heald Gallery, Wellington; DocFA Exhibition, George Fraser Gallery, University of Auckland, Auckland
2013: ‘After Hobson Gardens’, Michael Lett, Auckland Relics, Robert Heald Gallery, Wellington
2012: ‘Abstracts and Vision Statements’, Neon Parc, Melbourne
2011: Frieze Art Fair, Michael Lett Stand, London Hobson Gardens, Michael Lett, Auckland ‘Charlie Sheen’,; Y3K, Melbourne, Australia
2009: ‘Toyota Corolla’, Neon Parc, Melbourne Shallow Relief, Gambia Castle, Auckland
2008: ‘Explaining Things’, Gambia Castle, Auckland; ‘Affirmation Dungeon’, Jack the Pelican Presents, Brooklyn, New York Motivation Bunker, Neon Parc,; Melbourne; ‘Fractal Tears’, Michael Lett, Auckland
2007: ‘Gestapo Pussy Ranch’, Physics Room, Christchurch Affirmation Dungeon, Gambia Castle,; Auckland Harsh Tudor-Bethan Reality, The Engine Room, Wellington
2006: ‘Accumulations’, Ramp Gallery, Hamilton
2005: ‘Plastic Nudity and Projected Stories (with James Cousins)’, 64zero3, Christchurch Projecting and; Underground Scene, Window, University of Auckland Library, Auckland Houseplant, Ledge, Hamilton
2004: ‘DH Lawrence’s Apocalypse’, rm103, Auckland
2003: ‘Third Kind’, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Dunedin
2002: ‘Complex’, Starkwhite, Auckland, New Zealand; ‘Ascot Place (With Paul Johns)’, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Dunedin
2001: ‘Unfinished works’, Black Cube, Christchurch; ‘New Contemporaries: Abstract Art’, Rm401, Auckland; ‘Pharmacy’, Temporary Site (facilitated by the Enjoy Project) Wellington; ‘Office/Space (With Doug Kelaher)’, Blue Oyster Gallery, Dunedin; ‘The Museum of X and Dolphins and some of Steve’s stuff’, Lift Space, High Street Project,; Christchurch Ready-mades and found objects of profound mythological importance (with Eddie; Clemens), Moving Image Center, Auckland
2000: ‘A Winter Garden, The Physics Room’, Christchurch Observation Deck, Enjoy Project, Wellington
Nowhere, High Street Project, Christchurch
1999: ‘Inhibitor’, SWA*B studios, Christchurch

Selected Group Exhibitions

2022: ‘Walls to Live Beside, Rooms to Own: The Chartwell Show’, Auckland Art Gallery, Toi o Tāmaki; ‘On the table: Artists in the Jim Barr and Mary Barr collection’, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Dunedin, New
Zealand
2021: ‘Dungeon and Meadow’, Melbourne, Australia; ‘ALIVE INSIDE’, Neon Parc, Melbourne, Australia; ‘Encapsulated’, Caves, Melbourne, Australia; ‘The Historical Gesture’, Robert Heald, Wellington, New Zealand
2018: ‘The Mechanic part 2’, Neon Parc, Melbourne, Australia; ‘Spring 1883’, Neon Parc, Melbourne, Australia (group); ‘High Windows’, Robert Heald Wellington, New Zealand (group); ‘Abject Failures’, Hastings City Art Gallery, New Zealand, curated by Chloe Geoghegan (group); ‘Space Suit’, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, New Zealand, curated by Lucy Hammonds (group); ‘Weaponry’, Temporary Site, Melbourne, Australia, curated by Gian Manik and Christopher L G Hill
(group)
2017: ‘Game’, Bowerbank Ninow, Auckland, New Zealand
2016: ‘Light Switch and Conduit’, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Dunedin, New Zealand; ‘Bilder Bilder’, Neon Parc, Melbourne, Australia; ‘Jim Allen, Dan Arps, Stella Corkery, Michael Lett’, Auckland, New Zealand
2015: ‘Necessary Distraction: A painting show’, Auckland Art Gallery, Auckland; ‘Occasional Table’, TG, Nottingham, United Kingdom
2014: ‘Kicking Against the Pricks’, Michael Lett, Auckland
2013: ‘Freedom Farmers: New Zealand Artists Growing Ideas’, Auckland Art Gallery, Auckland Porous; ‘Moonlight’, Papakura Art Gallery, Auckland
2012: ‘Letter from Alice May Williams’, Michael Lett, Auckland
2011: ‘Local Knowledge’, The Dowse Art Museum, Lower Hutt, New Zealand
2010: ‘Everything is near and inflorescent, forever and present’, Michael Lett, Auckland A Rock That Was
Taught It Was A Bird, Artspace, Auckland; ‘Modern Arrangements with The Estate of L. Budd’, Michael Lett, Auckland; The Walters Prize, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, Auckland; ‘Unpacking My Library’, Te Tuhi, Auckland
2009: ‘Cross Colouring’, Hell Gallery, Melbourne Angels & Demons, Michael Lett, Auckland ART LA Art Fair,
Los Angeles, USA
2008: ‘Gallery Artists and Special Guests’, Kaliman Gallery, Sydney Tokyo 101 Art Fair, Neon Parc, Tokyo,
Japan
2007: ‘Arps’, Teague, Georgetti, Michael Lett, Auckland; ‘Existence’, Waikato Museum, Hamilton; ‘The Shining Path’, Carlton Club and Studios, Melbourne Slowing Down, Glen Eira City Council
Gallery, Melbourne; ‘I DIG YOUR VOODOO’, Joint Hassles, Melbourne Omnipresents, Gertrude Contemporary Art
Spaces, Melbourne
2006: ‘One for the Other’, TCB inc. Melbourne; ‘Local Transit’, Artspace, Auckland; ‘Silver Clouds’, Next Wave Festival Container Village, Melbourne Silver Clouds, CLUBSproject,
Melbourne; ‘Super Natural’, The Physics Room, Christchurch
2005: ‘Picking Favourites’, Enjoy, Wellington; ‘Bring Your Caddy’, Elam Masters 05, Stanbeth House Gallery, Auckland; ‘Waikato Contemporary Art Awards Finalists exhibition’, Waikato Museum of Art and History, Hamilton
2004: ‘Remember New Zealand’, 2004 Sao Paulo Biennale, Sao Paulo, Brazil; ‘Ampersand’, temporary site, Part of the 2004 Art and Industry Biennial, Temporary Site, Christchurch; ‘Cuckooborough’, West Space, Melbourne; ‘Telecom Prospect 2004’, Wellington City Art Gallery, Wellington
2003: ‘Wonderland’, Artspace, Auckland; ‘Cuckoo Retrospective’, New Rooseum Critical-Studies Test-Site, Malmö, Sweden Arcadia, Govett; Brewster Art Gallery, New Plymouth; ‘Put out more flags’, Cuckoo at the Moving Image Center, Auckland; ‘Downtown Frown’, Special, Auckland
2002: ‘Break’, Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, New Plymouth SWA*B presents: Flying High, Temporary Site
2001: ‘Fuse’, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Dunedin; ‘Thrash’, Experimental Art Foundation, Adelaide; ‘Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll’, CoCA, Christchurch; ‘The Argonaut’, Linwood Community Art Center, Christchurch

Collections

The Wallace Trust Collection
Chartwell Collection
Private collections in Australia, Germany, New Zealand and United States.

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Installation view, 'Walls to Live Beside, Rooms to Own: The Chartwell Show', Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, 2022. Photo courtesy Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, 2022.

Dan Arps, Deep Thought, 2015, Satin print ed 1/ 5, 180 x 120 cm

Dan Arps, Charlie Sheen, 2011, Epoxy resin, PVC, false fingernails, acrylic paint, 31 x 39 cm

Dan Arps, Floral Arrangement (Piglet), 2016, Polyurethane, paint, 82 x 83 cm

Dan Arps, Crayzee Daizee (Chrome), 2018, Polyurethane and paint with aluminium support, 45 x 62 cm

Dan Arps, Grid Study (Marle), 2016, Polyurethane, paint, 88 x 91 cm

Dan Arps, Tree Study (Evil Olive), 2016, Polyurethane, paint 93 x 100 cm

Installation view, Dan Arps, 'Freedom Farmers', Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, 2013.

Dan Arps, 'Composition with blind (brown bronze)', 2019. Bronze, brown patina, 24.5 x 34.5 cm.

Dan Arps, 'Figure Study (Larger)', 2019. Epoxy putty, 3D printed PLA, acrylic paint, 26 x 18 x 30 cm.

Installation view, 'Walls to Live Beside, Rooms to Own: The Chartwell Show', Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, 2022. Photo courtesy Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, 2022.

Dan Arps, Double Pikachu, 2015, Satin print ed 1/ 5, 180 x 120 cm

Dan Arps, Plastic Mouth Feel, Installation view, 2015

John Nixon, 2011 - 2015, Acrylic, enamel, oil, stickers on four canvases, 63 x 73 cm

Dan Arps, Bad Synaesthesia (detail), 2006 – 2015, Mixed media, 13 objects

Dan Arps, Baffling (Chrome), 2018, Polyurethane and paint with aluminium support, 62 x 105 x 15 cm

Installation view, Dan Arps, 'Tower block/Cell Block/Rehab/Daycare', from 'Freedom Farmers', Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, 2013.

Installation view, Dan Arps, 'Freedom Farmers', Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, 2013.