Customer Reviews

Mo Te Upoko-o-te-ika/for Wellington

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Ever been to New Zealand? Artist of many shades Viggo Mortensen did for the epic movie trilogy "The Lord of the Rings," and like many other visitors was struck by the beauty and warmth of this little island country. And as an accompaniment to exhibitions in Massey University and the Wellington City Gallery, he presents "Mo Te Upoko-O-Te-Ika/For Wellington."

Mortensen often presents hauntingly everyday photos, but in "Mo Te Upoko-O-Te-Ika/For Wellington," he shifted toward the abstract. "Erfoud 17" presents a spray of flowers in a shimmery orb, while "Plimmerton" gives us silvery streaks across the darkness. The "Lost" photographs were taken as Mortensen tried to use the flash as a light source. (Waste not, want not)

These pictures are bold sweeps of vivid color, almost looking neon at times -- golden whirlpools against a dark backdrop, two glowing expanses of greenish-gold and electric blue clashing. It's like looking at the aurora borealis through night vision goggles. Color and light are the strongest elements in these pictures, and the effect is subtle and primal.

Poetry, paint, film and photograph are the big sweeping canvas that Mortensen has painted his art on, and he's in excellent form in "Me To Upoko-O-Te-Ika/For Wellington." Fluid, shimmering and thoroughly enticing.

It has come to our attention that copies of LINGER and FOR WELLINGTON purported to have been signed by Viggo Mortensen without personal dedications have been offered and sold on E-Bay. We warn any potential buyers of these books that Mr. Mortensen has not signed any books without dedicating them to a specific person, institution, or charity. These signatures are forgeries. We regret that some people have been deceived and paid far more than the actual listed price of these books, believing them to have been signed by Mr. Mortensen.
Source:Perceval Press, Viggo Mortensen's publishing house posted this warning. (www.Percevalpress.com)

This is not meant to indict the sellers in the Amazon links. Rather it is to offer a warning to anyone that has equal concerns as to how these books can be this expensive when they were less than 50$ when they were sold through Perceval.

Then again, perhaps gougers think if people will buy a grilled cheese because someone claims the Virgin is toasty somewhere in the bread, for over 20 thousand dollars, any fool will pay anything just to say THEY own it.


Caveat Emptor indeed.