Now, for this weeks inspiration! I must admit that I've been feeling a little homesick the last couple of days or so, as sadly I have a friend back home who isn't doing very well after a rather serious car crash. It is times like these that make being a 14 hour plane trip away all the much more difficult. So, if you'd indulge me, I'd like to share one of my all time favourite New Zealand artists with you, Rita Angus. She painted predominantly in the 1930's - 50s, and while she was more interested in developing her own style than a national one, to me her artwork is so very New Zealand. We have a print of 'Rutu', this first piece (unfortunately this is the best reproduction I could find, but it doesn't nearly do the colours justice), in our living room and I never get tired of looking at it. There is something both sad, strong and slightly surreal in her work, and the way she uses blocks of colour is so beautiful.
Rutu, 1951
Cass, circa 1936
Portrait of Betty Curnow, 1942
Central Otago, 1940
Self Portrait, 1947
I hope you like these, and if you like you can see more of her work over here at the Te Papa retrospective. Do you have a favourite local artist? I'd love to hear about them!
Self Portrait, 1936-7