NEW ZEALAND PRINTS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29002, 17 September 1959, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND PRINTS

Exhibition Causes Surprises To set out to gather together an exhibition of contemporary New Zealand graphic art would seem to be an unrewarding task. But the Auckland City Art Gallery has done this, and the exhibition on show at Gallery 91, causes two surprises. The first surprise is the size of the show. From other exhibitions one would not imagine there were nearly this many printmakers in New Zealand. Apart from prints by a few well-known lithographers and a wood engraver or two, very little graphic work is normally seen. The second surprise is the quality of the work. The technical standard is high—much higher than it is in most collections of paintings—-and there is a good proportion of prints showing imagination and vitality. Not all the standard graphic processes are represented; a notable and rather curious omission is woodcutting. Some processes. such as aquatint, are probably absent because they require expensive equipment which is not readily obtainable, but this can hardly be the case with woodcutting—it requires the simplest materials. Michael Nicholson has been seen here mainly as a painter but he is much more impressive as a lithographer. He achieves greater freshness and vitality in a process which is not very spontaneous than he does in his paintings. His lithographs in black and blue are among the best things in the show. Another Aucklander, Gabrielle Hope shows her usual light touch in two lithographs, one a pen drawing. Colin McCahon somehow gets away with an outrageous oval border in a beautifully strong and light lithograph, “Manukau Harbour,” and he has a lino-cut which shows a softness rarely seen in this medium.

Rachel Miller is one of the few etchers in the show. Her deep etchings in colour are fairly successful, but it is hard to appreciate the web of lines she weaves in space while the etchings are under glass, although this is unavoidable.

There are several other prints of more than casual interest in the exhibition, which provides a chance to survey a field more extensive than at least one person suspected.

Prints have not attained the popularity they deserve with either artists or public in this country. It is a pity because they make original works available at prices anyone can afford—two or three guineas. Maybe this exhibition will help to create greater interest in prints.—J.N.K.