Confidence in introspection

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33094, 8 December 1972, Page 14

Confidence in introspection

Helen Rockel exhibits five paintings and 73 drawings and prints in a showing of her work at The Canterbury Society of Arts Gallery. Miss Rockel, who was bom in Wanganui, graduated from The University of Canterbury School of Art with honours in painting in 1971, and has held one previous one-man exhibition at the C.S.A. Gallery. She has a statement in her catalogue which is a useful key to understanding her work: “People have always played an important part in my painting — initially as physical beings affected by space and light, and lately with more emphasis on their being creatures exposed to strong external forces. “Recently, I have also been trying to put more emphasis on the different states of mind which people experience. Space fulfills an important function in this field too, since it is indicative of the depth of the human mind.” She goes on “.. . Thoughts are presented as visual images — either logical or irrational.”

The effect this change of emphasis has had in her work is quite marked. She has moved away from fullymodelled, chiasiscuro effects tp sharply-contrasting areas of flat colour, swirling images of people caught up in forces beyond their control, themes of life and death, floating images, halfrealised as though in a dream, and passages of social comment. An exhibition involving

such introspection could easily be depressing, but Miss Rockel’s exjflosive compositions, confident drawing and controlled use of colour provide sufficient visual energy to maintain a high level of interest throughout. The exhibition will close on December 15. —G.T.M.