ACADEMY PICTURES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 86, 8 October 1943, Page 3

ACADEMY PICTURES

ANNUAL EXHIBITION

The annual exhibition of the NewZealand Academy of Fine Arts, which his Excellency the Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newall, is to open- tonight in the temporary gallery in the D.I.C. building, gives a very interesting crosssection of the work of the Dominion's artists. Severe limitations on hanging space have kept the number of pictures accepted down to a little over 200, although fully twice that number were submitted for the scrutiny of the selection committee. Even! the comparatively small number of 200 means that the walls are somewhat overcrowded, to the detriment of some of the pictures, but Under the prevailing conditions that cannot be helped and those responsible for the arrangement of the exhibition have done their work well. The general standard of the exhibition is well up to that of its predecessors, the section devoted to oils being rather stronger than usual. The names of most of the exhibiting artists are familiar to gallery frequenters, and very little of the work shown departs from orthodoxy to any marked degree. Genre painting is a field largely neglected by New Zealand artists: nearly all of them are wedded to landscapes, and ( there is practically nothing in the exhibition to suggest that New Zealand is engaged in a war. The war's main effect on art in New Zealand, apart from creating a shortage of materials, seems to be in the direction of stimulating sales. Among the many landscapes in oils is some outstanding work. Powerful paintings by Sydney Thompson, several being scenes" abroad, stand out prominently. One New Zealand picture of his, a fine study of pohutukawa trees, is one of the best things in the exhibition. Among the several big landscapes in oils is one by Cedric Savage, a striking cahvas depicting the rugged Titahi coast line. Near to it is a'nother large oil, "The Hill Top," which is Archibald F. Nicoll at his best. "Arrowtown>" and to a lesser extent perhaps "Queenstown," by Evelyn Page, will be recognised by the discriminating as something more than ordinary. The several landscapes by A. Elizabeth Kelly are, as usual, finished works of art. There are many other oils deserving mention did space permit, and patrons of the gallery will find a wide variety in style and subject. The water-colour section is domfn- ' ated by several well-known exhibitors. T. A. McCormack has a number of pictures of his characteristic style: one, "The Pool," has been pur- ' chased for the permanent collection. Nugent Welch, W. S. Wauchop, and I. G. Fife are among others who exhibit very distinctive work in this section. Only a few portraits have been hung. That of Mr. D. Sullivan by A. , Elizabeth Kelly is good both as a likeness and as a painting. W. A. Suttqn also exhibits a finely executed portrait, and Linley Richardson shows one of his distinctive Maori studies. The art of still-life painting has been successfully exploited by a number of exhibitors, notably W. S. Wauchop with a fine study of chrysanthemums and j Thane Field with colourful nastur- J tiums and wallflowers. A few small' pieces of sculpture, jewellery, and metal work complete what is in every respect a decidedly interesting exhibition. j