Italian frescoes inspire artist Brendan McGorry

Viewing the priceless 700-year-old Scrovegni Chapel frescoes in Padua, Italy changed the artistic world of Auckland artist Brendan McGorry, a finalist in this year's New Zealand Painting and Printmaking Award.

Since his inspiring visit to Italy in 2006 as a student of the prestigious New York School of Art course, McGorry has been a finalist in nearly every New Zealand painting award. This includes the 2009 New Zealand Painting and Printmaking Award, hosted by the Waikato Society of Arts and announced on Friday February 20.

His finalist entry is a painting titled "Who were we where did we go how do we get back?" It came from his desire to portray positive male role models. In the painting, he portrays four males: his father, himself, and two versions of his son - one as an infant and the other as he is now, a teenager. All four seem to silently, gently, contemplate each others lives and their own past and future. This painting is about the supportive, nurturing side of men and boys growing up and growing old together.

Back in 2006, McGorry went to Italy with a clear purpose. "I wanted to try and open up another side of my art," he says. Despite having no formal training in art history, he was drawn to the work of Renaissance fresco artists.

Renaissance fresco paintings are made directly on to the plastered walls of churches. The paint is actually mixed into the final coat of plaster and because plaster sets rapidly, the artists have to work quickly, section by section, to a well-planned design. McGorry was impressed by this combination of careful planning and speed of execution because it created an effect that seemed spontaneous as well as meticulous.

The Scrovegni Chapel, dedicated to St. Mary of the Charity, was frescoed by the renowned Renaissance artist Giotto between 1303 and 1305. It is one of the most important masterpieces of Western art. The frescoes, which narrate events in the lives of the Virgin Mary and Christ, cover the entire walls.

Standing in front of these frescoes, McGorry was fascinated by the contrast between the look of the painted surfaces - raw and dripping paint - and the delicate drawing of the figures and forms. "Even after 700 years, you can still see the raw energy of the artist's technique and yet everything is so well-ordered."

McGorry says his time in Italy gave him "amazing permission" to explore his art in a way he had not done before. Twice a week, the art students would set off early in the morning in a bus to see frescoes all over Northern Italy. Sometimes they would travel for as long as six hours to see a particular painting.

Following his time in Italy, McGorry's work underwent considerable change. "It took me a year to eighteen months for everything I had learned there to pull together into my present style of work."

The New Zealand Painting and Printmaking Award is in its nineth year. It has proved an effective springboard for emerging artists to advance their careers and for established artists to showcase their work to a wide audience.

The first (and only) prize is $15,000. In addition, the principal sponsors, the Philip Vela Family Trust, undertake to purchase the winning work for their collection. Typically, more than 20,000 visitors view the exhibition. This year's judge is Dr Robin Woodward from The University of Auckland.

18/02/09