PETER SIDDELL, 1935 – 2011, Auckland
One of New Zealand’s most prominent realist painters, Peter Siddell is perhaps best-known for his unpopulated cityscapes which appear familiar, yet are not identifiable. He draws together different elements from a variety of sources to create timeless images of neighbourhoods that look uninhabited despite there being evidence of earlier human presence. These cities are clean, tidy, carless and unpeopled. The houses’ interiors, seen through clean windows, are empty. The presence of people is implied by such devices as a door left open, or a view that is placed immediately in front of the viewer. It is as if all the inhabitants of that city or neighbourhood have fled a plague, leaving their buildings in perfect condition. These scenes have been likened to a stage set between rehearsals.
Siddell has also painted New Zealand landscapes, including dramatic panoramas, throughout his career, and did include people in his early works. He exhibits solely with Artis Gallery, Parnell, Auckland and his exhibitions consistently sell out within days, such is his popularity.
For vast amounts of information, visit the excellent Siddell website – there you will find CVs, articles, reviews and images of works by both Peter Siddell and his wife, Sylvia Siddell.
LINKS
· Peter Siddell artist website with images, reviews, articles and CV
. Peter Siddell Christchurch Art Gallery exhibition, 2003
. Peter Siddell review of exhibition at Te Manawa, Palmerston North, 2004
GALLERIES
Artis Gallery, Auckland
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Peter Shaw, Rainbow Over Mount Eden: Images of Auckland, Godwit, 2002
Elizabeth Caughey and John Gow, Contemporary New Zealand Art 3, David Bateman, 2002.
Richard Wolfe – Peter Siddell’s Perspective on the Alps, Art New Zealand 98, 2001
(This article is on line (Dec 2002) at Art New Zealand)
Helen Beaglehole and Mary Trewby (eds), Dream Collectors: one hundred years of art in New Zealand, Te Papa Press, 1998.
Brett Levine, Revisioning the Real, Lopdell House Gallery, 1998
Kevin Ireland, ‘Liberal Persuasion’, Art New Zealand 76, 1995.
Michael Dunn, The Persuasion of the Real, New Objectivity, 1995.
Michael Dunn, A Concise History of New Zealand Painting, Craftsman House, Sydney, 1995.
Warwick Brown, 100 New Zealand Paintings, Godwit, 1995.
Michael Dunn, ‘As Far as the Eye Can See’, Art New Zealand 62, 1992.
Roger Blackley, Two Centuries of New Zealand Landscape Art, Auckland City Art Gallery, 1990.
Gil Docking and Michael Dunn, Two Hundred Years of New Zealand Painting, David Bateman, 1990.
Don Binney, ‘Landscape Reassertions – Some Auckland Artists’, Art New Zealand 48, 1988.
‘Peter Siddell talks to Art New Zealand’, Art New Zealand 43, 1987
Elva Bett, New Zealand Art: A Modern Perspective, Reed / Methuen, 1986.
Kerry Fowler, In Separate Rooms: TVNZ documentary, Kaleidoscope, July 30, 1983.
Frank Dickinson, New Zealand Drawing, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, 1982.
Alexa M Johnston, Contemporary New Zealand Realist Paintings, exhibition catalogue, Auckland City Art Gallery, 1979.
Peter Cape, New Zealand Painting Since 1960, Collins, Auckland, 1978.