Studio featuring Pink Terrace: After Valentine (left) and White Light I (right)
Echo: A Brush with History
10 April – 1 May 2021
Best known for his super-sized, hyper-realistic portraits, Auckland painter Martin Ball takes a step into the past , in an exploration of New Zealand’s most famous landmarks, The Pink and White Terraces, buried in the eruption of Mount Tawarewa in 1886. As his great grandfather, Thomas Ball, did more than a century ago, Martin has drawn on the archival and historical photographs of the terraces by George Valentine, and paintings by Charles Blomfield, to resurrect this natural wonder, a site that continues to haunt the national psyche.
The artist says, ‘We are all aware of the very powerful narratives and stories associated with the Terraces, particularly their destruction. When painting these I was struck by how incredible it must have been to actually see these fragile, unique and strangely beautiful landforms. I have chosen to paint them in grey tones in reference to photographs of the terraces, but also because grey is associated with a sense of loss or memory.’
It is also worth noting that, the paintings and studio were photographed by Sam Hartnett, who coincidentally is the great grandson of Charles Blomfield.
Pink Terrace After Valentine 2018 oil on linen 1520 x 2010mm SOLD
Echo 2020 oil on canvas 800 x 1800mm
White Terrace Coffee Cups 2005 - 2020 oil on linen 760 x 1010mm SOLD
White Light II 2020 oil on linen, 800 x 1800mm SOLD
This exhibition is accompanied by a printed catalogue and essay by curator and writer, Richard Wolfe. To obtain a copy, please contact us.
Click below to download an electronic version copy of the catalogue.