The steep scree slopes of Mount Ida in the foothills of Kā Tiritiri-o-te-moana Southern Alps dominate this composition. Artist Rata Lovell-Smith travelled throughout Te Waipounamu South Island during the 1920s, and works like this demonstrate her growing recognition of the country’s unique character. It also highlights her ability to simplify forms and apply a sense of design to landscapes rather than merely record. By 1935, Lovell-Smith had become known for her “simple and direct treatment of landscape”, and was described as “practically the pioneer in this way of seeing and representing the Canterbury countryside”.

He Kapuka Oneone – A Handful of Soil (from August 2024)