| Communications and Development |  |
Published by Communications and Development
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| Leo Bensemann, Portrait of Alan Danks. UC/MBL/1985, University of Canterbury Art Collection. Reproduced with permission of the Bensemann family. |
An upcoming exhibition on campus will offer a face-to-face encounter with new artworks in the University of Canterbury Art Collection.
In Formal View, which will be on display during the University's arts festival Platform, will feature a series of newly-acquired or discovered portraits from the University's art collection.
Art Collections Curator Terri Elder said the theme of portraits was chosen to showcase the many new and interesting portraits in the collection.
“The works are in a variety of media, and are by both renowned artists as well as recent graduates, showing the breadth and depth that the collection is developing.
“Most of the portraits are of or by people associated with the University in one way or another. Understanding them helps us to develop a new layer of understanding of our institutional history.”
Ms Elder said portraits could tell us many stories. While they often appeared to be all about the person in the painting, a portrait could also tell us about the painter, the purchaser, the viewer and, in the case of the UC art collection, about the University itself.
She said the exhibition would explore the stories conveyed by the dozen or so portraits.
“It will look at who the people are, what they've meant to the University and give us a chance to talk about how each work came into the collection. It will also consider some of the history and ideas behind the art of the portrait.”
In Formal View includes formal and informal portraits, self portraits, as well as portraits of, or by, University staff and alumni. Included will be works by Leo Bensemann, Ronnie van Hout, Edward Bullmore, Evelyn Page, Tjalling de Vries, John Panting and Paul Johns.
In Formal View will be on display in the lounge, level 2, of the University of Canterbury Central Library from 21 May to 13 June. The library is open Monday to Thursday, 8am-10pm, Friday 8am-6pm, Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 10am-10pm. Entry is free.
More information about the Platform festival can be found at www.canterbury.ac.nz/platform.
For further information please contact:
Terri Elder
Art Collections Curator
Ph (03) 364 2987 ext. 8669
terri.elder@canterbury.ac.nz
or:
Greg Latham
Festival Co-ordinator
College of Arts
University of Canterbury
Ph (03) 364 3451
gregory.latham@canterbury.ac.nz