Elaine Conway's work is spread across a range of genres,
including sculpture, installation, interactive work and light
boxes. Within the varied modes of her artistic practice, Conway
investigates the nature of perception while simultaneously
commenting on the advance of society, utilising a range of
materials that emphasise the synthetic and its place in modern
life.
As Conway explains her series of light box works as a,
'21st century version of Polyorama Panoptique back-lit
images made to amuse the middle classes in the 18th
century. These works combine reflection and light to move the
viewers' perception by blending reality with remembered images.
Prolonged concentration creates differing readings as the brain
and eye work together. The light boxes are explorative
representations of established communities which ponder the
impetus behind the pervasion of chosen sites.' In choosing the
light box as a medium, Conway exaggerates the visual effect of the
image, calling attention to the content of each work in an
inescapable manner.
Conway's sculptures and lightbox works are held in public and
private collections throughout New Zealand and in 2007, she was
awarded the Harkness Henry Sculpture Award for her work 'Crumbling
Crust' at the Waitakaruru Arboretum & Sculpture Park. Conway
continues to exhibit as a solo artist and as part of the Dust
Collective.