Christchurch

Denis Robinson has compiled a moving tribute to Christchurch with a collection of  paintings of the city as it was before the devastating earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. He approached 19 artists – Cantabrians, past or present, or frequent visitors from other places – to request paintings that showed beautiful and evocative views of the city and its neo-gothic stone and character buildings. 


Many artists returned to old sketchbooks, to discover drawings still waiting to be painted, and these new artworks sit alongside paintings completed in earlier days and others sourced especially for inclusion in this book. The artists give personal introductions to their works, which range in place from the central city to the outlying coastal suburbs, including Banks Peninsula and the port of Lyttelton. 


There is a great variety of painting technique and mediums, including pen and ink, watercolour, oil, acrylic and pastel. Some of the works are highly realistic, while others are more impressionistic in style. 


Together they form a stunning and poignant collection of New Zealand art and a warm and positive tribute to Christchurch, helping to preserve the past of this beautiful garden city for generations to come. With a foreword from Mayor Bob Parker, this is a book that will be treasured by Cantabrians and visitors to Christchurch alike. 


Denis Robinson (1940-2012) worked with creative people throughout his career as a designer, art director and gallery manager. He was instrumental in initiating the Auckland Art Fair (2005) and acted as a judge in regional art competitions. A passionate advocate for New Zealand art, he profiled the work of many artists in his books and was acknowledged as a leading authority on their work.


Denis compiled eight books about New Zealand artists, including the bestselling New Zealand: A Painted Country  (2007, reprinted three times), New Zealand on Canvas, New Zealand in Watercolour, New Zealand Gallery, and Artists’ Impressions of New Zealand with New Holland Publishers. 


Art Direction, the art and design consultancy he established to connect artists with patrons and art lovers, can be accessed online at www.artdirection.co.nz