Denis O’Connor

Denis O’Connor, The Last Post Office, 2022

Wood, corrugated iron, printed corflute. Approx. 2700 x 4400 x 2700mm

Over fifty years of artmaking and publishing – including material excursions through clay, limestone, slate, found objects; and writing for art magazines and books – Denis O’Connor’s commitment to language is unwavering. From collaborations with our finest poets to cross-genre installation projects and documentary filmmaking – in all of these artefacts, O’Connor sees woven vernacular histories of place and people, theatrical testimonies of lives and the relationships that animate them.

The Last Post Office revives Waiheke’s written history in a large-scale, architectural facsimile of the island’s post offices. Many of the names on the post boxes are those of singular characters from the island, while others reference local in-jokes and folklore. Brought together for this installation, O’Connor offers a homage to Waiheke’s rich social history and the written word’s enduring power.

DENIS O’CONNOR

Lives and works on Waiheke Island.

Denis O’Connor is a long-time resident of Waiheke Island. His art combines high craftsmanship with a storyteller’s sharp perception, exploring the unique social history of the Hauraki Gulf, from its maritime traditions, wine industry, baches, beaches and annual community events.

Throughout a long career, he has been the recipient of many prestigious awards and international residencies, notably the Frances Hodgkins Fellowship at Otago University (1985), the Mõet et Chandon Fellowship in France (1996), and the Rathcoola Residency in Ireland (2005). His work has featured in numerous solo exhibitions, in public art museums throughout Aotearoa and is strongly represented in public and private collections. His sculptures can be viewed in many of our favourite public spaces, including Rudderstone in the Wellington Botanical Gardens (1997), Hourglass at the Auckland Museum (2000) and Raupo Rap at the Viaduct Basin (2005).

Denis would like to acknowledge the  Waiheke Island Stamp Club .

Represented by Two Rooms Gallery tworooms.co.nz