N.Z. Paintings On View In London

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30687, 1 March 1965, Page 13

N.Z. Paintings On View In London

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, February 28.

One of the paintings at the exhibition of New Zealand abstract art, opened at the Commonwealth Institute by Sir Thomas Macdonald, the High Commissioner, is hung on its side.

The exhibition Includes 69 paintings by 15 artists. Mr F. H. Coventry, a New Zealand artist who has made a name for himself in Britain, said: “Very Interesting. But you would not know these paintings had come from New Zealand unless you had a catalogue.”

Sir Thomas Macdonald said the exhibition had been arranged by Mr Peter Tomory, until recently director of the Auckland Art Gallery and formerly of Leicestershire, in response to an invitation issued directly to him by the institute last year. “This is a limited rather than a general exhibition of New Zealand works, restricted to contemporary painting in New Zealand over the last five years,” Sir Thomas Macdonald said. “Naturally there are many other artists in New Zealand and on a future occasion, perhaps, some of their work may be shown here. It might ■well be that an exhibition could be organised on historical lines as was once suggested to us by Sir John Rothenstein. “But however it may be, I would hope it would give wide opportunity to many artists, as well as those of today, to show what has been done in New Zealand over the years. “Abstract art has its appeal to many,” Sir Thomas Macdonald said. “But at the other end of the scale it earns some strong disapproval. In art, as well as in other fields, it is just as well we do not all think alike for life would be really standardised then. “My personal standards in art are very simple. If a picture pleases me I like it If it nuzzles me or disturbs me

I may find it interesting but I wouldn’t want to have it around.

“If it annoys or angers me, why bother about it? Arteries at my age are easily damaged.” The artists whose work is hung are: Rita Angus, Don Binney, Bryan Dew, John Drawbridge, Robert Ellis, Suzanne Goldberg, Rudolf Gopas, Patrick Hanley, Colin McCahon, Milan Mrkusich, Don Peebles, Ross Ritchie, W. A Sutton, Philip Trusttum and M. T. Woollaston.