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• Auction House:
  Mossgreen-Webb's
• Sale Name:
  The Peter Jarvis & Helene Phillips Collection
• Sale Date:
  30 Nov 2017 ~ 6.30pm (New Zealand Daylight Time)
• Lot #:
  37
• Lot Description:
  Michael Smither
  The Beach
  oil on board
  365mm x 500mm
  signed M.D. Smither and inscribed The Beach in ink verso
• Notes:
  ESSAY: The loose brush strokes and painterly quality of The Beach appear to be a far cry from the distorted hyperrealism that dominated Michael Smither’s early painting practice; however, they hint at the beginnings of the stylistic devices which are now recognisably Smither. Colour is saturated and bold while form and volume are transformed by shifting movement and light. Newly married with a young family in the early years of his painting practice, Smither drew inspiration from domestic life and the New Zealand landscape as it unfolded around him. Hillsides, rocks, the coastline and, in this instance, Port Taranaki were captured with his own personal vision. Here, Smither records a quintessentially New Zealand activity: a day at the beach. The Beach likely depicts Ngamotu Beach, described in tourist brochures of the Taranaki region as a “safe swimming beach for family”. Light flickers on the surface of the water, figures sprawl across the canvas and boats teeter in the wind as the artist plays with patterning effects and simplification of form. The sun has, however, disappeared behind a cloud and a gust of wind has picked up the hems of dresses and is pulling at the corners of towels and umbrellas. A large ship enters the harbour against the backdrop of Moturoa Island, overshadowing an otherwise magical day at the beach and pointing to the vulnerability of the landscape. Active in social issues and environmental campaigns throughout his life, Smither recognised the destruction of the coastal landscape that was being caused by the development of ports and harbours. The Beach is more than a simple New Zealand beach scene as it speaks to the artist’s awareness of these issues that impacted the environment so heavily and from which he drew his inspiration. Kate Srzich
• Estimate:
  NZ$30,000 - 40,000
• Realised Price:
  *****
  

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• Category:
  Art

This Sale has been held and this item is no longer available. Details are provided for information purposes only.