Works speak for themselves

Press, 26 July 1979, Page 7

Works speak for themselves

Ralph Hotere: Recent Paintings and Works on Paper, Robert McDougall Art Gallery until July 29. Reviewed by Michael Thomas. Any attempt to analyse the recent paintings by Ralph Hotere which he completed during his 1978 visit to Europe would be both inappropriate and belittling. They speak for themselves. Sombre black, symbolic crosses, words and numerals appear in the unstretched canvasses, which are presented, superbly. They are hu. r j in front of dark wails to create an atmosphere exactly in keeping with the rich and evocative mood of the pictures. The paint, the colour and the words combine to express something real but intangible; spiritual and human. One feels an empathy with the works, which communicate on an

emotional level. Too much cerebral analysis seems to get in the way of one’s “gut" reaction.

The paintings fall into four distinct series: “Return to Sangro,” which refer to the Sangro River War Cemetery on the Adriatic Coast of Italy where his brother is buried: “The Pope is Dead” which were painted in reaction to the death of Pope John Paul 1 in 1978; and the hauntingly beautiful "Window in Spain” and “Avignon” series. A film about the artist, which was made in 1973, is also being shown at the exhibition on request. Ralph Hotere lives in Dunedin. He has exhibited widely in New Zealand and overseas. His paintings in this exhibition are more freely expressive than much of his earlier work such as the Black Paintings and “Malady” series of the early 19705, which were extremely subdued and minimal It seems that Mr Hotere has enjoyed and even indulged himself in a new style of expression and is not ashamed of a more direct expressiveness showing through. There are works in the exhibition which are experimental rather than good, such as the packing carton with a fluorescent light piercing it. Over all the show demonstrates a new and significant era of growth for this important artist.