ART IN NEW ZEALAND

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 254, 24 July 1935, Page 5

ART IN NEW ZEALAND

Lack of Appreciation Evident AUSTRALIAN COMPARISON There was no evading the point Mr. T. 13. 11. Hall made, when in opening the show of Miss M. Stoddart’s pic* tures at the Academy of Fine Arts, he more than hinted at New Zealand’s lack of appreciation of its own artists. He made his point all the more obvious by drawing a not undeserved comparison with the attitude of mind of Australians toward their painters of talent. “Because our own artists have not become wealthy they are judged ineffective,” said Mr. Hall. •’Quite irrationally because their prosperity depends on recognition by their own people. I would venture the opinion that for many years we in New Zealand have ceased to apply ourselves to fundamental problems of policy and organisatjpn. The general lines of these were laid many years ago by men of vision. Since then we have merely added the frills which the advance of science and invention have made available, or have modified here and there to meet pressure. Our wealth has increased by the simple mechanism of increased production, and we have been more or less indifferent to the march of events. To-day they press on us. “What has been the attitude of our Australian cousins, born of the same stock? I sometimes go to file cinema. Always I see and hear a film of Australian exploits ami achievements described by a man proud of his country and full of abounding optimism for its future. Such snippets of New Zealand scenes as have been shown were actually described by an Australian. In other fields I see Australians with restless energy sending out trade commissioners, exploiting new markets, building up industries, intent on developing nationhood, while we send' all our produce to Britain, leaving her to use it or sell it and tie ourselves to her currency and banking systems. And what of art? Australians love their country' and honour and support the men who paint its beauty. They are nationalist almost to a fault iii that they will scarcely support any others so that Ileysen on the opening day of a show could sell £2OOO worth of pictures. Attitude Toward Culture. The attitude of a people toward cultural things Is the surest indication of real progress. We boast our British stock. I remember it includes a strain of the Viking adventurer. To enter a famous controversy I am not one ashamed to call Britain ‘Home.’ I claim and will not be denied a share in her speritual heritage and even in her famous places—the field of Hastings but much more the Icknield way across the lovely face of England trod by. the patient feet of ancient bearers of culture, my forefathers. England is Home with a capital ‘II,’ indicative of pride of race and tradition, of a place of pilgrimage. But New Zealand is also home with a small ‘h’—the diminutive of affection and intimacy—where my heart is and chiefest treasure, where we must build on the old foundations an even finer fabric.

“An exhibition such as this is a challenge to our national pride. 1 can conceive of no more urgent task for the Press and all people of influence than to secure adequate recognition for our artists in every branch of art. who are striving to build info onr society the essential element of an indigenous culture. It was men of culture who laid the foundations of our judicial, administrative, educational and economic policies. It will be men of culture in the broadest sense who will be required to guide us and build anew in the difficult days ahead.”