YEAR BOOK OF ARTS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 22, Issue 553, 27 January 1950, Page 5

YEAR BOOK OF ARTS

Sir,-After having réad A. J. C. Fisher’s review of the Year Book of the Arts in New Zealand, and then afterwards your editorial, which has had a modifying effect on my first intentions, ‘I still wish to congratulate Mr. Fisher on the bold and vigorous manner in which he set about his work. I agree also with your suggestion that critics in New Zealand are apt to be more generous in many cases than is deserved. _ From my own observations I am convinced that: public opinion is governed to a certain extent by the observations of critics-less in New Zealand, thank goodness, than overseas. Nevertheless, in recent times the’ so-called "modern art" is getting a great build-up even in this country, as evidence of which the Year

Book is an. excellent example. This book is obviously sponsored by a group which is’ endeavouring to influence public opinion.in favour of this modern form of expression, otherwise there would be a’ few reproductions of the works of some of our better known artists, whose work is more truly representative of contemporary art in New Zealand than is the work of many comparatively unknown artists to whom this book gives so much space. I could write a good deal about the subject of "modern art," but your editorial has had its effect. Nevertheless, I would like to quote a few words from Harold Speed’s book, The Science and Practice of Oil Painting: "The use of -swear words by ignorant people is quite excusable, because they have not the wit to use, or the knowledge of, just those words which would forcefully express what they want to say. And failing to give their expression the force they desire by the legitimate use of words, they throw in some nasty ex- | hpige of entirely alien association, ike a bad smell, but calculated to give a shock; which gives them the satisfaction of having made a forceful remark. The violent- use of colours and forms adopted by much so-called advanced art nowadays is just like these swear words. They want to create a sensation, and not having the wit to use the wonderful instruments of expression that are at the disposal of the modern artist who is prepared to follow the straight and narrow way, they would destroy the restraints of tradition and.rush to the use of swearing yellows and screeching reds, of clashing lines and jarring planes, in lieu of anything really forceful to say." I would recommend your readers to study Harold Speed’s- book and then glance through the Year Book. I am sure they will find both instructive...

ANOTHER PERSON'S OPINION

(Christchurch) _