Michael Smither–The Wonder Years

Michael Smither—The Wonder Years

19 February - 5 June 2006

Principal Sponsor  

Michael Smither is one of New Zealand’s most renowned and respected artists. His painting is often deeply personal and autobiographical, delving into the domestic landscapes and outside environments of his daily life. ‘Michael Smither—The Wonder Years’ - the first major exhibition of his work since 1984 - focuses on the incredibly productive period between 1962 – 1979 when the artist was living in his home town of New Plymouth. The exhibition includes Smither’s well-known landscape paintings and works inspired by his domestic life and family, as well as key paintings exploring political and religious subjects. The works, with their jewel-like colours and smooth glassy surfaces, are a visual feast. They are also conceptually challenging, engaging the viewer with questions about environmentalism, ecology, faith and family relationships.

Michael Smither was closely involved in the development of ‘Michael Smither—The Wonder Years’. The exhibition is divided into several sections, each framed around one of Smither’s statements about his work, and each exploring a different aspect of his practice. The exhibition includes some of Smither’s best-loved works: powerful domestic scenes such as The family in the van; works that capture both the charm and danger of childhood, such as Big Occity, where a wide-eyed toddler reaches inquisitively for a power socket; and iconic paintings of the Taranaki landscape and coastline.

Smither also works as a composer, and a recording of his composition 21 Piano Pieces, performed by David Guerin, one of New Zealand’s leading pianists, will play in the Gallery during the show.

         

An Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki touring exhibition
With support from the Friedlander Foundation and Aalto Colour