Marilynn Webb: Folded in the Hills, Christchurch Art Gallery
A masterful collection of landscapes all about connection is currently exhibited at Christchurch Art Gallery.
Late Māori artist Marilynn Webb (Ngāpuhi, Te Roroa, Ngāti Kahu) is known for her unique form and passion for feminism and environmental and political issues. Over five decades, Marilynn dedicated herself to creating art that explores the relationships between land, sky, and water.
From Te Tai Tokerau (Northland) to the home she established in Ōtepoti (Dunedin), Marilynn spent her life tracing the potential of the horizon and finding strength in the embrace of the hills. Through her art, Marilynn addressed nuclear testing, pollution, and habitat loss.
Her imagery of protection and defence reflects her persistent and fierce work ethic. Her legacy to the next generation is the powerful connection between tangata (people) and whenua (land).
“Marilynn specialised in printmaking, significantly helping to lift the mana of the artform in Aotearoa. Cascading lines are a defining feature of her work, as is the contrast between embossed lines and smudged pastels. She also developed a unique form of intaglio, linoleum engraving, and surface printing,” says Christchurch Art Gallery curator Melanie Oliver.
A revelation of Marilynn’s many ways of seeing, this exhibition is on now until 13 October 2024.
