Story: Arts and the nation

'Tabernacle' by Don Binney, 1966

'Tabernacle' by Don Binney, 1966

The hard-edged imagery of Don Binney's paintings brought praise for him in the 1960s as someone whose work expressed the characteristic hard, clear light of New Zealand. The idea that the New Zealand light differed from the mists of the old world was first suggested by Christopher Perkins and A. R. D. Fairburn in the 1930s, and was strongly endorsed by Hamish Keith and Gordon Brown in their book An introduction to New Zealand painting, which was first published in 1969.

Using this item

Victoria University of Wellington
Reference: VUW.1966.1
Oil on canvas by Don Binney

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How to cite this page:

Jock Phillips, 'Arts and the nation - Major themes of cultural nationalism, 1930 to 1970', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/45014/tabernacle-by-don-binney-1966 (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Jock Phillips, published 22 Oct 2014