Matthew Carter - Unscripted

Matthew Carter’s new body of work: Unscripted is a continuation of his documenting of the city and . In contrast to previous works where the sense of time and space was deliberately ambiguous, these pieces are grounded in more precise contexts. There’s a palpable sense of being "in the moment" in these works, inviting the viewer to sense the fleeting nature of transitory experience and also anticipation of what might happen next within or beyond the frame. The works invite the viewer to witness the ephemoral nature of everyday life.

A key innovation in this series is his use of a stronger, more saturated underpainting which pulls through, as well as a heavy emphasis on the primary hues: yellow red blue – perhaps a nod to Kandinsky’s painting Yellow-Red-Blue which explored emotive and suggestive power of tone. While these tones remain an underlying layer, it imbues the scene with heightened drama and intensity. The luminosity and richness of the underpainting add an extra dimension to the work, transforming the scene and its energy. Though the work revolves around the concept of the everyday, there’s an inherent drama at play—driven by the actions of the figures, but also emerging from the qualities of the place itself.

Though the work revolves around the concept of the everyday, there’s an inherent drama at play—driven by the actions of the figures, but also emerging from the qualities of the place itself. The city becomes a character, with its own kind of narrative tension and atmosphere that informs the emotional resonance of each moment.



Matthew Carter is an early area artist who is interested in the spatio-psychology of the city and how individuals relate to urban and industrial environments. His cityscapes have Hopperesque overtones and generally feature solitary figures with dramatic shadows in built up areas or focus in on empty car parks and the quiet abandon of more industrial areas. He is a very natural painter, as John Hurrell commented recently: Matthew has an “assured and sensual handling of oil paint” and “obviously very gifted”.. “deserving of wider appreciation”. [1]

Matthew graduated from AUT University in 2008, with a Masters in Art & Design, wining the Glaister Ennor Graduate Art Award in 2009. Since graduating, Matthew has exhibited widely and has been a finalist in a variety of awards. His work features in many public, private and corporate collections across Europe, USA and Australasia, including Wallace Trust in Auckland, Auckland City Council & Stevenson Collection in Picton.

[1] John Hurrell: Matthew Carter’s Cityscapes, Eye Contact June, 2016