This exhibition is now closed
McCahon / Van der Velden
18 December 2015 –
11 September 2016
Petrus van der Velden Nor'western Sky 1890. Oil on canvas. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū. Presented by Miss van Asch 1938
An exhibition of two of New Zealand's most respected painters.
Several generations separate Colin McCahon (1919–1987) and Petrus van der Velden (1837–1913) yet their work is rich in remarkable similarities. Both pursued their own kind of spirituality, informed by their love of and deep respect for nature, especially the New Zealand landscape. The work of both men was rich in religious symbolism. The use of light and dark in their landscape paintings provided a metaphor for spiritual enlightenment—darkness equating to doubt, light to belief.
My Gallery
Collection works in this exhibition
Curator:
Peter Vangioni
Exhibition number: 990
Collection works in this exhibition (13)
Northland
Colin McCahon
Windmill by Moonlight
Petrus van der Velden
Burial in the Winter on the Island of Marken [The Dutch Funeral]
Petrus van der Velden
Van Gogh: Poems by John Caselberg
Colin McCahon
Mount Rolleston and the Otira River
Petrus van der Velden
Blind V
Colin McCahon
Sumner
Petrus van der Velden
Nor'western Sky
Petrus van der Velden
Atmospheric Study, Sumner
Petrus van der Velden
As there is a constant flow of light we are born into the pure land
Colin McCahon
Tomorrow will be the same but not as this is
Colin McCahon
Nor’western Sky
Petrus van der Velden
Light falling through a dark landscape (A)
Colin McCahon
Related
film
Colin McCahon - Canterbury Landscape
Colin McCahon speaks about his art. From an interview with Ray Thorburn for the Department of Education, 1982.
Reproduced with the permission of the Ministry of Education and the kind co-operation of Ray Thorburn and the family of Colin McCahon.
Exhibition
From the Sun Deck: McCahon's Titirangi
17 September 2016 – 6 February 2017
Colin McCahon’s shift to Titirangi in 1953 was a watershed moment in the artist’s career, providing the inspiration for him to develop his interest in cubism and abstraction.
Notes
Nor'western Sky by Petrus van der Velden
This article first appeared as 'New landscape for Dutch artist' in The Press on 16 May 2014.
Notes
Nor'western Sky
Yesterday descendents of an old Christchurch identity, John Bradley, presented a charcoal drawing by Petrus van der Velden to Christchurch Art Gallery.
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
International Book Day
I was lucky enough to recently acquire my own copy of one my favourite books, Rodney Wilson's two-volume, case bound Catalogue Raisonne of Petrus van der Velden.
Notes
Quake brain, van der Velden-style
As might be expected, the Gallery's collection is primarily made up of complete works; prepared, resolved and sent on their way, as ready as they'll ever be for public exposure.
Notes
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.
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
There is only one direction by Colin McCahon
This article appeared as 'Divine Innovation' in the The Press on 31 August 2012.
Notes
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...