Te Papa pays $350,000 for McCahon
By PAUL EASTON - The Dominion Post | Friday, 28 November 2008|
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Before shelling out $350,000 for a Colin McCahon painting, Te Papa art director Jonathan Mane-Wheoki asked one question: "Is this something the national museum must have?"
The answer in the case of Mondrian's Last Chrysanthemum: Scared, was yes.
Painted in 1976, the work has been in a private Australian collection for the past 12 years.
Mr Mane-Wheoki described the price paid at a Melbourne auction on Wednesday night as "a modest outlay" but he stopped short of calling it a bargain.
Earlier this year Te Papa paid $600,000 for Scared (I am Scared, I stand up) from the same series of five paintings.
He said Te Papa had $3 million a year - from the Government and bequests - to buy important works across the fields of art, history, Pacific, Maori and natural environment.
"So a bit of juggling goes on."
Mr Mane-Wheoki said there were strict controls on buying paintings like, for example, being sure of their authenticity.
McCahon, who died in 1987, is seen as one of New Zealand's most important artists.
He was a fan of painter Piet Mondrian, and Mondrian's Last Chrysanthemum turns a flower painted by the Dutchman into a nuclear explosion.
"This painting is a powerful statement about the threat of nuclear war. It is also one of his most beautiful works," said Mr Mane-Wheoki.
The painting will be on public display as soon as possible.
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It's always easier to waste other people's money than your own. Thanks Te Papa
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#1 Posted by Ben Worth — 17:09 PM | Friday , 28 November 2008
Is this a Tui billboard on the piss?
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#2 Posted by Barnes — 21:27 PM | Friday , 28 November 2008