Auckland Art Gallery
27 October 2007 - 20 April 2008
Portraits customarily communicate two attributes about people - they depict what a person looks like or exposes who they are. This collection-based exhibition reveals how New Zealand artists observe individuals and transform them into the subject of their work.
For these artists, figurative representation is a means in which portraiture can express both human likeness and personal character.
In New Zealand, portraiture is sometimes overlooked although it is one of our more substantial art traditions. During the 19th and early 20th centuries some of our most important portraits were made of Maori people.
During the first half of the 20th century, the public's interest in the practice of portraiture made it a stylish choice for artists. After World War II sculptural portraits became a noticeable presence in our society, as did the practice of artistic photography.
An interest in portraiture has always been widespread throughout New Zealand. The breadth of this visual tradition has always been expansive. While it might record public figures and celebrities it has focussed more on the exploration of human nature.
A key reason for collecting such figurative images is their ability to enlighten us about New Zealand's artists and the people who have fascinated them.
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