Hōtere’s ‘1984 No. 9’ was a protest against American nuclear-ship visits to New Zealand. The Christchurch Art Gallery said of the painting: ‘Hotere uses the scratched stainless steel plate to suggest the sinister and uncompromising technology of the warship, whilst the weathered frame and delicately scorched paper allude to the fragility of the natural world and the impact of political decisions. A strong vertical in the centre of the work could suggest a periscope or the explosive thrust of a missile which have been “crossed out” by the artist.’
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Christchurch Art Gallery - Te Puna o Waiwhetu
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