Freedom and Structure: Cubism and New Zealand Art 1930–1960

A revolutionary style, Cubism's influence spread globally beyond Europe and the United States to Asia and Australasia, affecting other disciplines including architecture, design and fashion.

Freedom and Structure looks at the significant effect of Cubism on New Zealand painting, and reveals its impact on the work of initial adopters John Weeks, Louise Henderson and Colin McCahon, and others including Melvin Day, Charles Tole and Wilfred Stanley Wallis. This exhibition explores how these artists incorporated the radical language of this style, weaving it into their work in inventive ways.

Freedom and Structure features works from the collections of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki (listed below), Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Waikato Museum, The University of Auckland, Victoria University of Wellington, The Hocken Library – University of Otago, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and private lenders.