Reviews
Of Mourning Chorus at the Satellite Gallery 2009:
“Her work, painted with dash and vigour, shows figures with the bodies of plucked chickens and human heads. These hang in a void and might be meat hanging on hooks. There is no background or context but the chicken bodies look female. The paintings show half of humanity beating ineffectual wings in a void. The chicken wings are handless and the fat legs have no feet. They are going nowhere. The figures are vigorously modelled and the faces that top them are cleverly foreshortened. We see them from below their chin and their heads are tilted backward.
The artist trained in Britain and the European influence of Jenny Saville and Georg Baselitz is evident.
The assurance in the modelling of the figures is counterpointed by the way streams of pinky-red are allowed to run down the canvas in ways that evoke the dripping of blood…
The emotional intensity of the brushwork is visually compelling and the artist comes accross as powerfully motivated to make a statement about her view of the human condition. The only handicap is the lack of context for the horror. This is an aspect of humanity laid bare in a compelling way, reinforced by the emotional intensity of the brushwork.”
TJ McNamara, Art Critic, New Zealand Herald Saturday March 7 2009
Higgens’ work captures the raw squeal of humanity, peppered with all the poignant beauty our condition has to offer. Her skilful paintings are exquisitely considered, yet embrace all the raw energy, authenticity and freedom of the sketch. Higgens’ unique palate and cutting dark humour make for visually magnetic and intellectually compelling pieces. For me, Sal’s works have a subtle genius and visceral bite, not soon forgotten.
Shelley Hargis, Director, Satellite Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand 2009
Of Empire National Youth Art Award Winner 2008:
From the original entry with a photograph of the work – it was a piece that grabbed my attention. This is not always a good indicator as a work in the “flesh” can often have a very different impact to an image of the work. But the arrival of this work did not disappoint. All aspects pleased the judging eye. Those looking for painterly or drawing skill found it in this piece. I personally was looking for something less tangible – my favorite artworks have something familiar yet something new about them – they tell a story and they ask questions. For me, this piece had it all, and I eagerly anticipate seeing what comes from this artist over the coming years.
Pauline Lewis, Judge, Empire Art Award, Cambridge New Zealand, October 2008
Of Playhouse at The Small Dog Gallery 2008:
It was an entriguing and evocative show; paintings of children with expressions ranging from distorted laughter to agonising grimaces. A sense of drama was cleverly created through the fast brushwork and low-key colour range and it left the viewer pondering about the stories behind the images. To quote the artist herself “May paintings are stories about stories. They tell you nothing but that by the absence of narrative they suggest a narrative.” The powerful images in the exhibition were based on old black and white post war photographs of children which Sally had found in fleamarkets…
With her challenging and unique paintings she has given New Zealanders something to reflect upon and in return New Zealand has given her the freedom to paint again.
Anna Woodroffe, Arts and Culture Writer, Ponsonby News May 2008
