Modern masters on TV tonight

Press, 6 October 1980, Page 15

Modern masters on TV tonight

“.America and Europe: A Century of Modern Masters from the Thyssen-Borne-misz-a collection” is the most important international exhibition surveying 19th and 20th century art to be shown in New Zealand since the “Modem Masters: Maret to Matisse” tour from the Museum of Modern Art, New York in 1975.

“Kaleidoscope,” this evening on Network Two, looks at 32 selected works from the Thyssen-Bornemisza exhibition at present touring New Zealand, through the eyes of Antony Green, professor of art history, Auckland University.

“This was a very exciting project for television," says the producer of tonight’s programme, John O’Leary. “Apart from anything else, this has got to be the most significant material in terms of painting we’ve ever had.” It had posed problems for television. Technicians could not have put hot lights up and leave them burning, as these paintings are masterpieces to be preserved. The programme was videotaped over two nights, which had its problems. “We couldn’t get in until after 7 p.m., when the public had gone, and we then had to do a normal day’s work,” said Mr O’Leary. Mr O’Leary was particularly grateful to the help given to the “Kaleidoscope” crew by Luit Bieringa, the director of the National Art Gallery, and Denis Stevens, head of security of the gallery-.