Hotere's White Drip

Press, 14 July 1980, Page 26

Hotere 's White Drip

Exhibition by Ralph Hotere and Russell Moses at the Brooke/Gifford Gallery, until July 25. Reviewed by David Brokenshire. Ralph Hotere’s paintings, totally uncompromising, are exceptionally rewarding to those who really look. Some paintings give all their force immediately but with Mr Hotere’s work one senses the immense power it contains. However, this power is released only slowly and often over a period of years. So with the present show, in which many pieces could be called “protest paintings” — Agent Orange, Aramoana, etc. These are very strong. Each is painted on old corrugated iron and is intricately and gloriously worked. Among the verj' serious panels one is called “White Drip.” It has an old brass tap

mounted above it. Hurrah for an artist with a sense of humour. Russell Moses work is called EASTER MCMLXXX an Instillation. No, it is not a mistake. It means to infuse feelings or ideas into people and this is exactly what this massive sculptural work does. In two contrasted parts, the first one is a of three black, very tall, ceramic forms, pit-fired, abstract crosses. The second part is three tall white boxes with exquisite silver lettering. On one hand, the savage crucifixion and on the other, carefully wrapped with silver lettering, the sweet thing Easter has become for so many of us. This work is one of the most powerful, emotionally demanding pieces I have seen. It is a glory that it has been purchased by the Robert McDougall Art Gallery.