N.Z. art for Brazil

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32542, 27 February 1971, Page 18

N.Z. art for Brazil

(N Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Feb. 26. Three painters ha* been selected to represent New Zealand at the eleventh biennial international exhibition of the visual arts in Sao Paulo, Brazil, between September and December this year. Announcing this today, Mr W. N. Sheat, the chairman of the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council, said it would be the first official representation by New Zealand in an exhibition of international repute. The three artists who will enter six paintings each in the exhibition, are the Maori painter, Ralph Hotere, Michael Eaton, and Ray Thorbum. They were selected by Mr M. Day, the director of the National Art Gallery, after an extensive consideration of

the work of artists throughout' New Zealand. Hotere, Eaton, and Thor-

bum will be eligible for eight biennial prizes drawn from a fund of $20,000, as well as the major prize of $lO,OOO.

Major prize winners in other years include the British sculptors Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth, the French painters Leger and Vasarely, and the Mexican artist Tamyo. Mr Day said selection had been made on the grounds of a “certain affinity” in the work of all three. “Thorburn does 'op art’ using a shimmering juxtaposition of colours. Hotere’s paintings illustrate the close relationships between shades of black and mathematical precision. “Eaton is also fairly geometric a ‘hard edge’ painter —using absolutely crisp lines with the intention of ringing colour changes.” Mr Day said New Zealand needed to show it could produce paintings as technically accomplished as those of overseas countries. “I believe this exhibition will show that we are basically an urban people—which is what we are. It is about time we changed the agrarian image which we tend to have overseas,” he said.