ART IN NEW ZEALAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 279, 23 November 1921, Page 5

ART IN NEW ZEALAND.

LOTUS KATIONAX EXPRESSION

AX AUSTRALIAN'S VIEWS,

•Is there in New Zealand a band of artists who are trying to give expression to the spirit df this, your wonderful country. I am extremely anxious to determine if New Zealand is developing a National Art?"

The speaker was Mr. C. Lloyd Jones, tvlio is one of the directors of the "Art in Australia" and the ''Home,'- two of the finest printed magazines and equal to anything imported from abroad. Both are entirely the production of Australia. Mr. Lloyd Jones while in New Zealand on a holiday means to devote part of his time to seeking an answer to this question, and also to seeing what is to be seen with the object of reproducing in the "Heme" any object that represents man's handiwork at its best and that is likely to improve the taste of the community, be it a beautiful homestead, a fine piece of furniture, or a choice bit of china.

Returning to the question of national expression, Mr. Lloyd Jones said: "The spirit of a people as typified in their art, their literature and their nureic. In young countries it is always difficult for these movements to find expression, but they deserve encouragement.' :

Of the art standard of this country our visitor has not so far formed a very hich estimate, for after a visit to the Art Gallery he expressed the opinion that beyond the Wright's and Watkin's •he saw no examples of outstanding local talent. "Auckland and its surroundings:' h e continued, ''are a delight to the eye. both in form and colour, and the city and harbour are wonderfully beautiful. One of the missions of the artist is to reveal to us the beauty that surrounds us. In Australia our artists have done this to a remarkable extent, for they have put on canvas the spirit, atmosphere and colour of our native land so that all with eyes to see may see its glorious beauty and be proud of their wonderful heritage."'

The best method of fostering art. lie considered, is to have a school under the instruction of a master who has had a thorough artistic training and who would have eufficient breadth, technical knowledge and vision to encourage the Xew Zealander to express himself. "A ■zreat deal has been done in this manner to encourage a national expression in Australia. Auckland seems advanced in many ways. Her citizens arc generous in the donation of parks and a line man. and I hope the day i? not lar distant when they will 1* equally generous to the encouragement of art.