N.Z. ARTISTS PRAISED

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 979, 23 May 1930, Page 16

N.Z. ARTISTS PRAISED

“SOME OF THE BEST WORK” AT LONDON DISPLAY PICTURES FROM OVERSEAS Some of the best work comes from New Zealand, says the London “Daily Chronicle” critic of a collection of paintings from artists of the British Dominions now being exhibited at the New Burlington Galleries. What does he know of English art who only England knows? he asks. Very few of us have any idea what is being done by our kin in the Dominions and colonies in art although we all know what they did in war. The British Empire Academy is doing something to let us know about it, and in the second exhibition at the New Burlington Galleries it has displayed the best collection of current overseas art that one can remember in London. The home section is interesting, with Charles Pears’s “The Scarlet

Parasol” and works by H. D. Richter, Paul Paul and, among less-known painters, Elsie Druce aud Billie Waters. Excepting Canada, the chief parts of the Empire are characteristically here. There is nothing revolutionary. India holds to its own convention and technique, and the other countries are mainly impressionist in tendency, while there is no modern post-impres-sionism. R. S. Hellaby’s "Boiling Lake, Tarawera,” in idea, style and colour, strikes one as the outstanding work in the New Zealand section, and his “Coral Strand at Levuka, Fiji,” also has power and charm. Ruth Hollingsworth is another notable New Zealander. In the Australian section, Sydney Long’s landscapes, and J. S. Watson’s decorative panel, deserve special mention. -The South African section is biggest, and has most variety. Dorothy Kay’s picture, “Painting the Mast,” a decorative design of men on a topmast seen against a brilliant blue and white sky, Graham Brown’s “Kanchenjinga,” Margaret Carey’s "Zulu Mother and Child,” and M. Kottler’s bronze head of a Hottentot girl are notable contributions.