Young N.Z. Artists In London Show

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29800, 17 April 1962, Page 21

Young N.Z. Artists In London Show

IBy the London Correspondent of “The Press"]

LONDON. April 3. tn the fourth annual exhibition in London of paintings and sculpture by young Commonwealth artists there are works by six New Zealanders, one of whom will be returning to New Zealand in a day or two. The Young Commonwealth Artists' organisation was formed four years ago to give Commonwealth art students in London an opportunity to show their work in a recognised exhibition. Membership has grown from 12 in the first year to 200, and is open to all students from Commonwealth countries who may remain members up to four years after leaving art school.

He is Pat Hanly, who was recently described in a publication influential in art circles as one of the top six young English painters, and latterly he has gained considerable recognition. His exhibits in the current show are but tw’o of a series. He is a prolific painter who likes to produce a series—of sometimes as many as 50 works.

Mr Hanly. who has been working on the technical side in London theatres during the evenings and painting all day—his exhibitions have included a one-man show in the Comedy Gallery, London, last year—and his wife (formerly Miss Gil Taverner) have many friends in Christchurch and Palmerston North Both attended the University of Canterbury School of Art. He is looking forward to working in New Zealand again and hopes to do at least two new series there. Edward Bullmore. whose parents live at Clydevale, near Balclutha, has on show three paintings. Mr Bullmore, who,was educated at Christchurch Boys’ High School, later attended the Canterbury School of Art. After more than two years’ teaching at Tauranga College, in 1959 he left for Florence. There he worked and studied for six months before becoming domiciled in London early in 1960. Mr Bullmore, who will probably return to New Zealand in a year or two, is today teaching art at Hackney Downs School, near London. Michael Browne, from Eastbourne, is painting abstract forms at the moment and in this exhibition there are two examples. Mr Browne worked in advertising for five years before he attended the Canterbury School of Art in 1954. He won the National Art Gallery scholarship, entitling him to three years' study in Britain at the Royal College of Art. This was extended for a year in Paris at S. W. Hayter's engraving Etalier. A fellowship from the Netherlands Cultural Relations Organisation allowed him a further year in Amsterdam, in 1960. and since then he has been teaching part time at the Hammersmith College of Art. London. Mr Browne has had a oneman show in Amsterdam, and he has shown prints in an international exhibition in

Tokyo. He also had a painting in the Stuyvesant Collec“°n shown recently in Amsterdam. and he has exhibited m the Gemeent Museum at The Hague. With his wife, the former Miss Jennifer Marks, of Wanganui. Mr Browne proposes to return to New Zealand within a year or two. B. G. Bates, from the Elam School of Art in Auckland, has on hisplay a painting, .wo graphic works, and four sculptures. Mr Bates, who has previously exhibited with the Young Contemporaries and in the Museum of Modem Art, expects to leave for New York in August, where he will pursue his carear as an artist and “amateur hobby-, ist.” I He worked in New York last summer vacation and was immensely impressed with the artistic atmosphere there. He does not contemplate returning to New Zealand. Jeanne Bensemann, of Wellington, has exhibited two paintings in this show’. Miss Bensemann. who was educated at Victoria University College, has been influenced by the Spanish school. She has no immediate intention of returning to New Zealand. A part-time teacher at the Hornsey Art School and a grammar school. Miss Bensemann exhibited in Wellington before she left for Lon-

don in 1955 and more recently with the London Group and the Young Contemporaries. The remaining exhibitor from New Zealand. William Culbert, of Lower Hutt, is at present working in France. Mr Culbert was an honours student from the Canterbury University College School of Art, and he won the National Art Gallery's Travelling Scholarship to the Royal College of Art in London, where he was awarded a silver medal. He had his scholarship extended for a year. He exhibited at the Edinburgh Festival and also designed the sets for one of the plays presented there.