Colin McCahon: A Question of Faith

Colin McCahon: A Question of Faith

Exhibition Details

A survey show which follows the development of McCahon's works from 1946 to the beginning of the 1980s.

It focuses on the artist's spiritual quest, demonstrating how he explored questions of faith, doubt, hope and eventually despair.

The selection shows how McCahon sought to give visual representation to these existential issues of the human condition by using and modernising the Western Judeo-Christian artistic tradition.

Free Admission thanks to the generosity of three private patrons.

Seminar

This one day seminar on 24 May 2003 incorporated five papers written and presented by well known McCahon experts and academics. These explored aspects of McCahon's concept of faith, his use of traditional Christian iconography, works commissioned for the church, and how his paintings were received at the time of their production.

Participants included Jonathan Mane-Wheoki, Laurence Simmons and William McAloon among others.

The seminar was held in conjunction with the Stedelijk Museum's exhibition Colin McCahon: A Question of Faith and supported by The Sue Fisher Art Trust. The papers from the seminar will be published subsequently.

Date
Curated by
Ron Brownson
Location
Main Gallery, Upper Level
Cost
Free entry

Related Artworks

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Are there not twelve hours of daylight
Are there not twelve hours of daylight

Colin McCahon

Production date
1970
Medium
synthetic polymer paint on unstretched canvas
Size (h x w)
2070 x 2600 mm
Credit line
Chartwell Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, in special recognition of E.W. Gardiner, 1985
Accession no
C1994/1/144
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The days and nights in the wilderness: a constant flow of light falls on the land
The days and nights in the wilderness: a constant flow of light falls on the lan...

Colin McCahon

Production date
1971
Medium
synthetic polymer paint on unstretched canvas
Size (h x w)
2378 x 1840 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of the McCahon Family, 1988
Accession no
1989/51/4
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Gate 15: Black diagonal
Gate 15: Black diagonal

Colin McCahon

Production date
1961
Medium
enamel on hardboard
Size (h x w)
1512 x 1220 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of the McCahon Family, 1988
Accession no
1989/51/5
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I Paul to you at Ngatimoti
I Paul to you at Ngatimoti

Colin McCahon

Production date
1946
Medium
oil on cardboard on plywood
Size (h x w)
664 x 796 x 50 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased 1982
Accession no
1982/14/1
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Not on display

Imprisonment and Reprieve
Imprisonment and Reprieve

Colin McCahon

Production date
1978-1979
Medium
acrylic on paper
Size (h x w)
2733 x 1310 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased 1980
Accession no
1980/7.1-3
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The lark's song
The lark's song

Colin McCahon

Production date
1969
Medium
synthetic polymer paint (PV Ac) on two hardboard doors
Size (h x w)
1630 x 1980 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of the artist, 1982
Accession no
1982/7/2
View Artwork

Not on display

May His Light Shine (Tau Cross)
May His Light Shine (Tau Cross)

Colin McCahon

Production date
1978-1979
Medium
synthetic polymer paint on unstretched canvas
Size (h x w)
1875 x 2380 mm
Credit line
Chartwell Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, 1980
Accession no
C1994/1/64
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Not on display

Rocks in the sky, series 2, no. 5: The Lagoon. Plankton
Rocks in the sky, series 2, no. 5: The Lagoon. Plankton

Colin McCahon

Production date
1976
Medium
synthetic polymer paint on paper
Size (h x w)
730 x 1100 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, on loan from a private collection
Accession no
L1998/28/94
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Six days in Nelson and Canterbury
Six days in Nelson and Canterbury

Colin McCahon

Production date
1950
Medium
oil on canvas on hardboard
Size (h x w)
885 x 1165 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of Colin McCahon through the Friends of the Auckland Art Gallery, 1978
Accession no
1978/12
View Artwork

Not on display

Teaching aids 2 (June)
Teaching aids 2 (June)

Colin McCahon

Production date
1975
Medium
acrylic on paper
Size (h x w)
1092 x 728 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, on loan from a private collection
Accession no
L1998/28/97.1-10
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Not on display

The Promised Land
The Promised Land

Colin McCahon

Production date
Aug 1948
Medium
oil on canvas
Size (h x w)
1045 x 1475 x 33 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of the McCahon Family, 1988
Accession no
1989/51/1
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Not on display

Visible Mysteries no. 8
Visible Mysteries no. 8

Colin McCahon

Production date
1968
Medium
acrylic on board
Size (h x w)
1245 x 631 x 45 mm
Credit line
Chartwell Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, 1986
Accession no
C1994/1/177
View Artwork

Not on display

Cross
Cross

Colin McCahon

Production date
1959
Medium
oil ("Solpah") on hardboard
Size (h x w)
1219 x 762 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, on loan from a private collection
Accession no
L1998/28/13
View Artwork

Not on display

Numerals
Numerals

Colin McCahon

Production date
1965
Medium
PVA on board
Size (h x w)
1260 x 953 x 50 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of the McCahon Family, 1988
Accession no
1989/51/3/1-13
View Artwork

Not on display

Will he save him
Will he save him

Colin McCahon

Production date
1959
Medium
oil ("Solpah") on hardboard
Size (h x w)
1220 x 900 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of the artist, 1982
Accession no
1982/7/1
View Artwork

Not on display

Angels and bed no. 4 : Hi-fi
Angels and bed no. 4 : Hi-fi

Colin McCahon

Production date
1976-1977
Medium
acrylic on canvas
Size (h x w)
3440 x 5440 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased with assistance from the Friends of the Auckland Art Gallery, 1977
Accession no
1977/31
View Artwork

On display

Waterfall
Waterfall

Colin McCahon

On display

Production date
1964
Medium
oil on board
Size (h x w)
2133 x 908 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased 1967
Accession no
1967/28/2
View Artwork

Not on display

Here I give thanks to Mondrian
Here I give thanks to Mondrian

Colin McCahon

Production date
1961
Medium
oil (alkyd) on hardboard
Size (h x w)
1215 x 915 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of the Friends of the Auckland Art Gallery, 1964
Accession no
1964/9/3
View Artwork

Not on display

The Marys at the Tomb
The Marys at the Tomb

Colin McCahon

Production date
1950
Medium
oil on canvas on hardboard
Size (h x w)
930 x 1182 x 85 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of the Friends of the Auckland Art Gallery, 1960
Accession no
1960/24/2
View Artwork

Not on display

The Fourteen Stations of the Cross
The Fourteen Stations of the Cross

Colin McCahon

Production date
1966
Medium
synthetic polymer paint on 14 sheets of paper on cardboard
Size (h x w)
750 x 555 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of the artist, 1981
Accession no
1981/27
View Artwork

Not on display

Sketch
Sketch

Colin McCahon

Production date
1961
Medium
enamel on hardboard
Size (h x w)
603 x 499 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased 1979
Accession no
1979/67/4
View Artwork

Not on display

Easter morning
Easter morning

Colin McCahon

Production date
1950
Medium
oil on jute canvas
Size (h x w)
695 x 923 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of the artist, 1979
Accession no
1981/10
View Artwork

Not on display

Gate 1
Gate 1

Colin McCahon

Production date
1961
Medium
oil on canvas on board
Size (h x w)
845 x 927 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased 1974
Accession no
1974/15/4
View Artwork

Not on display

Visible mysteries no. 1
Visible mysteries no. 1

Colin McCahon

Production date
1968
Medium
synthetic polymer paint on hardboard
Size (h x w)
970 x 1270 x 60 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased 1980
Accession no
1980/14
View Artwork

Not on display

Anyone who lives on milk
Anyone who lives on milk

Colin McCahon

Production date
1969
Medium
charcoal on wallpaper stock
Size (h x w)
1680 x 650 x 50 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, on loan from a private collection
Accession no
L1998/28/30
View Artwork

Not on display

Lark singing was almost a daily ritual
Lark singing was almost a daily ritual

Colin McCahon

Production date
1969
Medium
conté on paper
Size (h x w)
1675 x 650 x 50 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, on loan from a private collection
Accession no
L1998/28/24