Colin McCahon Victory over death 2 (1970. Synthetic polymer paint on unstretched canvas. Gift of the New Zealand Government 1978. Courtesy of the Colin McCahon Research and Publication Trust
This exhibition is now closed
Two decades after Colin McCahon's death, this touring focus exhibition brings together paintings and works on paper by one of the most widely acclaimed New Zealand artists.
Colin McCahon (1919–1987) is considered one of the most influential modernists in the Australasian region, producing his most strikingly original works from the late 1940s to the early 1980s.
His early figurative work of the 1940s and 1950s was dominated by images drawn from religious paintings, often set in the New Zealand landscape.
By 1959 he had produced his first body of 'written paintings' – the Elias series. From this time on, text was to be the central motif in McCahon's work.
In the final decade of his career most of his works consisted solely of numbers and texts drawn from the Bible or from Māori and English poetry. In these works he explored his growing interest in Māori culture, personal responses to Christianity, the symbolism of numbers, environmental concerns, and the challenge of faith.
Toured by the National Gallery of Australia.
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Date:
8 March – 8 June 2008 -
Exhibition number:
789 -
Exhibition Supporter
Collection works in this exhibition
Related reading: Colin McCahon
audio
Justin Paton reads 'One big painting'
Listen to senior cuartor Justin Paton reading 'One big painting' from his book How to Look at a Painting published by Awa Press and available from the Gallery Shop.
audio
Colin McCahon
Listen to senior curator Justin Paton discussing Victory over death 2 by Colin McCahon. Generously provided by RDU 98.5FM
Notes
Canterbury Landscape by Colin McCahon
In 2014 we purchased an important landscape work by Colin McCahon. Curator Peter Vangioni speaks about this new addition to Christchurch Art Gallery’s collection.
Notes
‘Where the picture stops and the world begins’
The way a work of art is framed affects our perception of the piece. A bad frame can detract and distract, a good frame enhances and even extends a work. While the Gallery has been closed we have updated frames for a number of works in the 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
as there is a constant flow of light
On a recent printer's residency at the Otago University's Otakou Press Colin McCahon's huge mural painting Waterfall Theme and variations dominated proceedings.
Notes
Light Passing Into a dark landscape
Today is the centennial of the death of one of New Zealand's most treasured artists, Petrus van der Velden.
Notes
There is only one direction by Colin McCahon
This article appeared as 'Divine Innovation' in the The Press on 31 August 2012.
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As there is a constant flow of light we are born into the pure land
After many, many months in the 'Darkness' of the empty gallery, I can think of no better words than those of Colin McCahon to signify the opening of the new gallery shop at 40 Lichfield Street.
Drop in Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, 10am-4pm Weekends
See you all soon!
Notes
O'Reilly/McCahon: an Easter meditation
An Easter-themed excerpt from an article published in 2010 in The Journal of New Zealand Art History...
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Sutton high-fives McCahon
Nothing made it into a W.A. Sutton painting by accident, and the white line that rises diagonally through the sky in Plantation Series II is no exception.