SCULPTURE AND PAINTING

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27735, 12 August 1955, Page 10

SCULPTURE AND PAINTING

PLEA FOR GREATER USE IN N.Z. There is no shortage of labour among artists, says Mr Eric Doudney in a plea for the greater use of sculpture and painting in the design of buildings m New Zealand. Mr Doudney, who is senior lecturer in sculpture at the Canterbury School of Art. says in a statement to “The Press’’ that architects, sculptors, engineers and painters should work together from the earliest design stages of all building projects to ensure the most perfect architectural result. Even the smallest 'factory or shop could be a thing of beauty. “In the news yesterday was a note to the effect that one more New Zealand artist was leaving the country —Mr Alan Ingham, sculptor,” said Mr Doudney. “Also recently in the news was the new Christchurch railway station devoid of sculptural or mural embellishment), the proposed town hall and civic centre, the airport and the, new university at Riccarton, which might, and certainly should employ sculptors and painters to enrich the heritage we are going to pass on to our descendants. “Being built in Christchurch at present is a large hospital, a large school nearby, and many other buildings, but as far as I can see, all are devoid of any of the finer details which can add so much to the beauty and interest of these edifices. “A building to be worthy of the name of architecture should be functionally and aesthetically near perfection. but the latter is rarely possible without the grace of good sculpture an-1 painting. “Can the apathy of Christchurch be stirred, and some move made to allocate a percentage of cost to that other than the material and utilitarian. Aftex all, the cost is negligible and the benefit would be immeasurable.

“There is no shortage of labour, we have good artists, but they are human and will continue to drift away to the higher rewards and appreciation offered abroad, even by an extremely materialistic country like Australia,” he said.