Robert Ellis has established a unique visual language using historically meaningful emblems. His comprehensive exhibition career has been informed and enhanced by his interest in and work with the connection between European and Maori cultures. KITE: see find recognise incorporates Ellis’ interest in the connection between cultures. Ellis describes the effects of difference and connectedness within the New Zealand context, by overlaying European emblems and symbols within the specific ‘landscape’ background of the Maungawhau / Natura Morta and Te Ipu a Mataaho / Natura Morta paintings and the ambiguous background of fragments in the Natural Selection paintings.

Robert Ellis’ paintings reveal much about time, chance, change and renewal. His trade–mark paint application informs the objects, spaces, and colours he selects. These are the constituent parts of a well–reasoned debate. He does not present easy solutions amidst the layered display of issues and concerns, but the work reverberates with highly suggestive clues amidst a multiplicity of emblems.

Interconnecting all Ellis’ emblems and symbols, is a metaphysical standpoint. This is the backbone of Ellis painting and reads as a unique visual language whereby the paintings speak a blend of past and present, fact and fiction, questions and answers and more questions again.