Listing Details
Colin McCahon (1919-1989)
New Zealand artist Colin McCahon is credited with introducing Modernism to 20th century art. His art practice included different styles from landscape to the overlaying of painted text.
Born in Timaru the family moved to Dunedin where McCahon attended school and later his first art classes with artist Russell Clark. He attended Dunedin Art School from 1937 – 1939. McCahon submitted work to be included in the Otago Art Society’s group exhibition but was excluded at first on the grounds of his modernist monochromatic style. Complaints were made by other artists at his omission and the society relented and included his work.
The McCahon family first relocated to Christchurch and then moved to Titirangi before moving to central Auckland. He worked at both Auckland Art Gallery and Elam Art School influencing the work of many emerging artists.
McCahon has been credited with creating an artistic Nationalism in New Zealand.
“Most of my work has been aimed at relating man to man to this world, to an acceptance of the very beautiful and terrible mysteries that we are part of. I aim at very direct statement and ask for a simple and direct response. Any other way the message gets lost.
My painting is almost entirely autobiographical – it tells you where I am at any given point in time, where I am living and the direction I am pointing in. In this present time it is very difficult to paint for other people – to paint beyond your own ends and point directions as painters once did. Once the painter was making signs and symbols for people to live by; now he makes things to hang on walls at exhibitions.”
Colin McCahon
Fitzclarence Anstey John Caselberg (1927-2004)
John Caselberg was a New Zealand writer, born in Wakefield, south of Nelson and educated at Nelson College.
His work ranged through poetry and playwriting to short stories and essays. Along with his wife, artist Anna Caselberg, he was at the centre of a thriving art and literary milieu which included his good friend and collaborator Colin McCahon, father-in-law Toss Woollaston, and writer Charles Brasch. Caselberg was awarded the Robert Burns Fellowship from the University of Otago in 1961.
Remarks: Issue Vol I&II. Poems by John Caselberg & J.M Thomson. Edited by John Caselberg & Colin McCahon. Published by Griffin Press.
Dimensions: 190mm W x 250mm H
