Attitudes to nude paintings changed says artist

Media Release – January 21 2004

Attitudes to nude paintings changed says Ferner expo artist

Leading New Zealand artist Ian Scott says public attitudes to nude paintings have changed significantly in the last 30 years.

Scott’s paintings will feature in the Ferner Gallery Exhibition to open in Wellington next month.

The exhibition called Bride Stripped Bare will be held in the capital’s Ferner Gallery from February 2 to 28.

``I got into trouble with one of my 1968-70 nude series. Some of them were banned from exhibition,’’ Scott said today.

``One series, called Lawnlovers (1969) was taken down and banned. There was a fuss in the media at the time. Times have changed and nude paintings or artwork are readily accepted in New Zealand these days.’’

Scott is a major New Zealand artist of the post-McCahon generation who has remained innovative and relentlessly experimental throughout his prodigious career. McCahon was his painting tutor at Elam art school.

His exhibition history is extensive; he has numerous works in public galleries and private collections throughout New Zealand.

Ferner’s national director Helene Phillips said the art world had changed since the prudish days of the 1960s.

``People will pour into the Bride Stripped Bare Exhibition to see the works for what they represent and to appreciate the artists’ skills. This exhibition of nude paintings will be very popular with people in Wellington,’’ she said.

The rare and provocative showing looks at the human body looks at the work of New Zealand artists struggling against the domination of landscape painting when it opens in Wellington in February.

The exhibition includes works by Grahame Sydney and Ralph Hotere. Other artists feature are Douglas MacDiarmid, Kase (eds: rpts KASE) Jackson, David Armitage, Ian Scott, John Buckland Wright, Trevor Moffitt, John Weeks, Vida Steinert, Glenda Randerson, Louise Henderson, Pat Hanly and Heather McLeod.

As one of New Zealand's leading dealer galleries, Ferner is the only art dealers in their field to operate in both Auckland and Wellington.

Ends

© Scoop Media