Wealth, greed, export, import, waste, pollution, corruption... All are associated with the world's most valuable commodity and the subject of Chris Clements' new exhibition at Mary Newton Gallery opening 23 May 2007.Wealth, greed, export, import, waste, pollution, corruption... All are associated with the world's most valuable commodity and the subject of Chris Clements' new exhibition at Mary Newton Gallery opening 23 May 2007.Clements has drawn directly from his local surroundings at Port Chalmers - the base for Port Otago - to put together a series of unctuous oil paintings of shipping containers fresh off the carrier boats, and stacks of logs piled to the sky awaiting export.

These hard-edged industrial fixtures are rendered with an organic, personable touch that allows them the softened look of marshmallows or lamingtons. The clusters of commodities waiting in limbo seem to be weighted with promise even when set in this foreboding industrial landscape.

This work also embodies notions of avarice and the measuring of pleasure through volume - it is all about having more.

When: 23 May - 16 June 2007
Where: Mary Newton Gallery, 150 Vivian Street, Wellington.