PAINTINGS BY A.R. PEARSON

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32561, 22 March 1971, Page 16

PAINTINGS BY A.R. PEARSON

An exhibition of paintings by A. R. Pearson, whose work has not been seen in Christchurch for several years, is being shown in the downstairs gallery of the Canterbury Society of Arts. The works are mainly portraits and landscapes, with a small number of still-life paintings. Pearson’s “Music Series” is hi s most recent work. Nos. 1 ' and 2 are entitled “Canterbury Plains,” No. 3 “The Elements” and No. 4 “La Mer.” In each of these paintings horizontal movements and patterns, occasionally arrested by vertical passages form harmonious and discordant orchestrations of red, blue, green and purple. In the “Nike Series,” painted in 1970, there is less frenzy of movement, voluminous, vapourous forms rise 1 to a vaguely suggested winged figure floating above the land.

It appears that in both series Pearson is trying to de-

velop a style of personal expressionism but is, as yet, unable to completely separate representation of his inner feelings from the external world of visual reality. Pearson exhibits eighteen portraits and despite, in some cases, a tendency to overplay his sitter’s character, they represent his best achievements in paint. In No. 4 “Johny Herman,” No. 6 “Self Portrait,” and No. 8, “Milton,” the green fluores-cent-like chiaroscuso effects are beautifully controlled to present the figure dramatically forward of the main concentration of light. Certainly he makes no effort to flatter his subjects, his representation of character in a number of drawings that accompany the exhibition are Daumier-like in the degree they go beyond' a superficial likeness. The exhibition will remain open until March 31. —G.T.M.