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The Group (New Zealand art)

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Chocmilk03 (talk | contribs) at 08:09, 18 January 2021 (Adding local short description: "Informal association of NZ artists", overriding Wikidata description "association of artists in New Zealand" (Shortdesc helper)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The Group was an informal but influential art association formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1927. Initially begun by ex-students from Canterbury College of Art, its aim was to provide a freer, more experimental alternative to the academic salon painting exhibitions of the Canterbury Society of Arts. The Group exhibited annually for 50 years, from 1927 to 1977, and it was continuously at the forefront of New Zealand art's avant-garde scene.

Many of the country's best-known artists were associated at some time with The Group. Among these are Colin McCahon, Doris Lusk, Toss Woollaston, Rita Angus, Olivia Spencer Bower, Leo Bensemann, Rata Lovell-Smith, Philip Trusttum, and Douglas MacDiarmid.[1] The influence of The Group extended into other areas of New Zealand culture through the collaborations and friendship of members such as the likes of writer and editor Charles Brasch and composer Douglas Lilburn.[2] Its influence was such that it is occasionally referred to as "Bloomsbury South".[2]

Further reading

  • Elizabeth Louise C’Ailceta, The Group: 1927-1977 (1999, Victoria University of Wellington School of Communications and Information Management)
  • Anne Kirker, New Zealand Women Artists: A Survey of 150 Years (1986, Craftsman House) ISBN 976-8097-30-2

References

  1. ^ "15. – Canterbury region – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand". Teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Home - The New Zealand Portrait Gallery". Nzportraitgallery.org.nz. Retrieved 18 March 2019.