Founders/Settlers of Catan Box Lid Overprint; 2017; UV print on unfolded Settlers of Catan board game box lid: 45×45×1cm, UV print on unfolded Settlers of Catan board game box lid: 45×45×1cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Operation; 2017; Resin, Polystyrene, New Era Cap, Adidas Mesh long-sleeved t-shirt , Nike Free footwear, Acrylic paint, Gaming cable, Wood, Apple earbud headphones, Customised T800 Terminator 2: Judgement Day Figurine, Fidget spinner, iPhone 5, Kindle Paper, Various New Zealand coins, novelty “Bitcoin” ornamental coins, custom Lanyard, nootropic powder in plastic zip-lock bag, Nike Bootstraps, DLD hoodie, SMOK T PRIV vaporizer, large tweezers: 48×204×68cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Founders Box Cover Projection; 2017; Royalpainting.com commissioned painting (oil on canvas), UV print on canvas, custom stretchers: 115×115×2cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Founders Decaying Earth Board Projection; 2017; Royalpainting.com commissioned painting (oil on canvas), UV print on canvas, custom stretchers: 166×166×2 cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Founders Decaying Earth Board Projection; 2017; Royalpainting.com commissioned painting (oil on canvas), UV print on canvas, custom stretchers: 166×166×2 cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Founders Board Game Display Prototype; 2017; Customised “Settlers of Catan” game pieces, 3D print, UV print on Butler Finish Aluminium Dibond, UV print on card, LEDs, moulded electronic wiring, Dell PowerEdge 1950 server casing, Linoleum, MDF, powder coated steel, Plexiglas: 120×103×103cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Founders Board Game Display Prototype; 2017; Customised “Settlers of Catan” game pieces, 3D print, UV print on Butler Finish Aluminium Dibond, UV print on card, LEDs, moulded electronic wiring, Dell PowerEdge 1950 server casing, Linoleum, MDF, powder coated steel, Plexiglas: 120×103×103cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Operation; 2017; Resin, Polystyrene, New Era Cap, Adidas Mesh long-sleeved t-shirt , Nike Free footwear, Acrylic paint, Gaming cable, Wood, Apple earbud headphones, Customised T800 Terminator 2: Judgement Day Figurine, Fidget spinner, iPhone 5, Kindle Paper, Various New Zealand coins, novelty “Bitcoin” ornamental coins, custom Lanyard, nootropic powder in plastic zip-lock bag, Nike Bootstraps, DLD hoodie, SMOK T PRIV vaporizer, large tweezers: 48×204×68cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Twister Wallwork 3; 2017; Custom woven cotton weaving, texts lifted from Max Harris’ The New Zealand Project, velcro, aluminum: 200×150×2cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Fourth-Way Silhouette Twister wall weaving: Rule propositions; 2017; Custom woven cotton weaving, texts lifted from Max Harris’ The New Zealand Project, velcro, aluminum holder: 200×150×2cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Founders Box Cover Projection; 2017; Royalpainting.com commissioned painting (oil on canvas), UV print on canvas, custom stretchers: 115×115×2cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Game of Life: Collective vs Individual Board Game Display Prototype; 2017; Customised “Das Spiel des Lebens” game pieces, 3D prints, UV print on Butler Finish Aluminium Dibond, UV print on card, customised LED lamps, moulded electronic wiring, Dell PowerEdge 1950 server casing, Linoleum, MDF, powder coated steel, Plexiglas: 105×103×103cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Fourth-Way Silhouette Jenga Display Prototype; 2017; Laser-cut Jenga XXL cardboard blocks, plexiglas, texts distilled from Max Harris’ The New Zealand: 190×70×70cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Fourth-Way Silhouette Jenga Display Prototype; 2017; Laser-cut Jenga XXL cardboard blocks, plexiglas, texts distilled from Max Harris’ The New Zealand: 190×70×70cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Fourth-Way Silhouette Twister wall weaving: Rule propositions; 2017; Custom woven cotton weaving, texts lifted from Max Harris’ The New Zealand Project, velcro, aluminum holder: 200×150×2cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Fourth-Way Silhouette Jenga Display Prototype; 2017; Laser-cut Jenga XXL cardboard blocks, plexiglas, texts distilled from Max Harris’ The New Zealand: 190×70×70cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Fourth-Way Silhouette Jenga Display Prototype; 2017; Laser-cut Jenga XXL cardboard blocks, plexiglas, texts distilled from Max Harris’ The New Zealand: 190×70×70cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Ascent: Above the Nation State Board Game Display Prototype; 2017; Customised “Descent – Journeys in the Dark” game pieces, UV print on Butler Finish Aluminium Dibond, UV print on card, LEDs, moulded electronic wiring, Dell PowerEdge 1950 server casing, Linoleum, MDF, powder coated steel, Plexiglas: 105×103×103cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Ascent Box Cover Projection; 2017; Royalpainting.com commissioned painting (oil on canvas), UV print on canvas, custom stretchers: 115×115×2cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
The Founder’s Paradox; .
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
The Founder’s Paradox; .
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Ascent Box Cover Projection; 2017; Royalpainting.com commissioned painting (oil on canvas), UV print on canvas, custom stretchers: 115×115×2cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Ascent Hero Portrait Projection (Angmar the Occupier); 2017; Royalpainting.com commissioned painting (oil on canvas), UV print on canvas, custom stretchers: 125×90×2cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
The Founder’s Paradox; .
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Ascent Hero Portrait Projection (Angmar the Occupier); 2017; Royalpainting.com commissioned painting (oil on canvas), UV print on canvas, custom stretchers: 125×90×2cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Ascent Hero Portrait Projection (Angmar the Occupier); 2017; Royalpainting.com commissioned painting (oil on canvas), UV print on canvas, custom stretchers: 125×90×2cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Game of Life: Collective vs Individual / Das Spiel des Lebens Box Lid Overprint; 2017; UV print on unfolded Das Spiel des Lebens board game box lid: 65×45×1cm, UV print on unfolded Das Spiel des Lebens board game box lid: 65×45×1cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Game of Life: Collective vs Individual Board Game Display Prototype; 2017; Customised “Das Spiel des Lebens” game pieces, 3D prints, UV print on Butler Finish Aluminium Dibond, UV print on card, customised LED lamps, moulded electronic wiring, Dell PowerEdge 1950 server casing, Linoleum, MDF, powder coated steel, Plexiglas: 105×103×103cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Game of Life: Collective vs Individual Board Game Display Prototype; 2017; Customised “Das Spiel des Lebens” game pieces, 3D prints, UV print on Butler Finish Aluminium Dibond, UV print on card, customised LED lamps, moulded electronic wiring, Dell PowerEdge 1950 server casing, Linoleum, MDF, powder coated steel, Plexiglas: 105×103×103cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Canvas Work Game of Life Cover; 2017; Royalpainting.com commissioned painting (oil on canvas), UV print on canvas, custom stretchers: 115×165×2cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Game of Life: Collective vs Individual / Das Spiel des Lebens Box Lid Overprint; 2017; UV print on unfolded Das Spiel des Lebens board game box lid: 65×45×1cm, UV print on unfolded Das Spiel des Lebens board game box lid: 65×45×1cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Founders Board Game Display Prototype; 2017; Customised “Settlers of Catan” game pieces, 3D print, UV print on Butler Finish Aluminium Dibond, UV print on card, LEDs, moulded electronic wiring, Dell PowerEdge 1950 server casing, Linoleum, MDF, powder coated steel, Plexiglas: 120×103×103cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
The Founder’s Paradox; .
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
The Founder’s Paradox; .
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
The Founder’s Paradox; .
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Ascent: Above the Nation State Board Game Display Prototype; 2017; Customised “Descent – Journeys in the Dark” game pieces, UV print on Butler Finish Aluminium Dibond, UV print on card, LEDs, moulded electronic wiring, Dell PowerEdge 1950 server casing, Linoleum, MDF, powder coated steel, Plexiglas: 105×103×103cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Ascent: Above the Nation State Board Game Display Prototype; 2017; Customised “Descent – Journeys in the Dark” game pieces, UV print on Butler Finish Aluminium Dibond, UV print on card, LEDs, moulded electronic wiring, Dell PowerEdge 1950 server casing, Linoleum, MDF, powder coated steel, Plexiglas: 105×103×103cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
The Founder’s Paradox; .
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Game of Life: Collective vs Individual Board Game Display Prototype; 2017; Customised “Das Spiel des Lebens” game pieces, 3D prints, UV print on Butler Finish Aluminium Dibond, UV print on card, customised LED lamps, moulded electronic wiring, Dell PowerEdge 1950 server casing, Linoleum, MDF, powder coated steel, Plexiglas: 105×103×103cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Canvas Work Game of Life Cover; 2017; Royalpainting.com commissioned painting (oil on canvas), UV print on canvas, custom stretchers: 115×165×2cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Game of Life: Collective vs Individual Board Game Display Prototype; 2017; Customised “Das Spiel des Lebens” game pieces, 3D prints, UV print on Butler Finish Aluminium Dibond, UV print on card, customised LED lamps, moulded electronic wiring, Dell PowerEdge 1950 server casing, Linoleum, MDF, powder coated steel, Plexiglas: 105×103×103cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Game of Life: Collective vs Individual Board Game Display Prototype; 2017; Customised “Das Spiel des Lebens” game pieces, 3D prints, UV print on Butler Finish Aluminium Dibond, UV print on card, customised LED lamps, moulded electronic wiring, Dell PowerEdge 1950 server casing, Linoleum, MDF, powder coated steel, Plexiglas: 105×103×103cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Founders Board Game Display Prototype; 2017; Customised “Settlers of Catan” game pieces, 3D print, UV print on Butler Finish Aluminium Dibond, UV print on card, LEDs, moulded electronic wiring, Dell PowerEdge 1950 server casing, Linoleum, MDF, powder coated steel, Plexiglas: 120×103×103cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Founders Board Game Display Prototype; 2017; Customised “Settlers of Catan” game pieces, 3D print, UV print on Butler Finish Aluminium Dibond, UV print on card, LEDs, moulded electronic wiring, Dell PowerEdge 1950 server casing, Linoleum, MDF, powder coated steel, Plexiglas: 120×103×103cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
The Founder’s Paradox; .
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
The Founder’s Paradox; .
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Game of Life: Collective vs Individual Board Game Display Prototype; 2017; Customised “Das Spiel des Lebens” game pieces, 3D prints, UV print on Butler Finish Aluminium Dibond, UV print on card, customised LED lamps, moulded electronic wiring, Dell PowerEdge 1950 server casing, Linoleum, MDF, powder coated steel, Plexiglas: 105×103×103cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett.
Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, 2018:
The Founder’s Paradox uses gaming to reflect on competing political visions for New Zealand’s future. Berlin-based New Zealand artist Simon Denny uses the visual language of board games to reflect on new mythologies of the entrepreneurial founder as well as the changing role of the nation state in a time of political uncertainty. Denny’s sculptures, prints and paintings collapse together fantasy imagery with expansionist ambition – an uneasy polemic which has long had particular resonance in the South Island of New Zealand, which is increasingly being looked to as a bolt-hole for Silicon Valley entrepreneurs. In an increasingly fractured and fractious world, the neoliberal status quo in New Zealand and further afield is beginning to be questioned at both ends of the political spectrum. Denny’s work reflects on competing political visions for New Zealand’s future within a volatile social climate destabilised by new technologies.