Eileen Mayo
England / Australia / Aotearoa New Zealand, b.1906, d.1994
Springing Fern
- 1983
- Screenprint
- Purchased 2011
- 578 x 365mm
- 2011/230
Location: Sir Robertson and Lady Stewart Gallery
Tags: leaf (plant material), plants (living organisms), spirals (geometric figures)
English-born Eileen Mayo had lived in Aotearoa New Zealand for twenty years when she made this screenprint of young fern fronds in the lush native undergrowth. One of her final prints, it combines her enduring appreciation of the natural world with an extraordinary technical ability, conveying not only the graceful beauty of the plants she depicts, but a strong sense of their place within a complex and interconnected ecosystem. The sight of fern fronds in the act of unfurling provided the inspiration for the Māori koru, a powerful symbol of perpetual creation, growth and return.
(He Kapuka Oneone – A Handful of Soil, 2025)
Exhibition History
Unseen: The Changing Collection, 18 December 2015 – 19 June 2016
English-born Eileen Mayo excelled across a remarkable range of media, including drawing, linocuts, wood engraving, lithography, tapestry and silk screening. She also became a sought-after commercial designer, known for exquisitely detailed and balanced images that appeared on stamps and coins in Australia and New Zealand. Mayo had lived in New Zealand for twenty years when she made this screenprint of young fern fronds in the lush native bush. One of her last prints, it combines an enduring appreciation of the natural world with extraordinary technical ability, conveying not only the beauty of the plants she depicts, but a sense of their place within a complex and interconnected ecosystem.
Related reading: Unseen: the changing collection
Notes
Cut it out
Eileen Mayo has more than a few fans here at Christchurch Art Gallery and for me her linocuts are a standout of her works represented in the Gallery's collection.
Notes
Kauri tree landscape by Colin McCahon
This article first appeared as 'Mighty kauris inspired McCahon' in The Press on 10 February 2015.
Notes
NUD CYCLADIC I by Sarah Lucas
This article first appeared as 'A visible means of support' in The Press on 26 September 2014.
Notes
How Did You Do That?
How often have you stood in front of an art work and wondered how the artist did that?
Notes
Lift of a gift
Staff here at the Gallery have enjoyed finally getting the opportunity to see Dust, Smoke and Rainbows (2013), a major new painting gifted by Shane Cotton, which was brought out of storage to be photographed recently.
Notes
There is only one direction by Colin McCahon
This article appeared as 'Divine Innovation' in the The Press on 31 August 2012.
Notes
Populate! update #8 (face up)
The waning sun and lowering weather have one nice side-effect, which is to create the perfect conditions for viewing Peter Stichbury's backlit billboard NDE, newly installed on Worcester Boulevard.
Notes
Hiding in plain sight
We've all heard the stories about confusions occurring on the edge where art meets life.
Notes
A major boon to the Gallery in the direct aftermath of the earthquake
English artist Sarah Lucas was installing her show in Two Rooms, Auckland, when the 22 February earthquake struck.
Notes
Max's gift
In early 2010 Max Gimblett announced his intention to give the Gallery a substantial gift of works on paper. The only complication was that someone had to go and select them...