Prints by mural painter, the late John Foster along with photographs taken by his daughter Kath, feature in Mahara Gallery’s current MAHARA iti exhibition.
Beckoning Land is three series of prints Foster made of images from the large-scale murals he is best remembered for. He farmed near Wellsford, north of Auckland. During his lifetime he created 15 large murals, several hundred small paintings and made more than 1300 editions of prints. He had more than 50 exhibitions at commercial and public art galleries and his murals were shown on television several times.
Curator, Vicki Robson says that John Foster’s art is not that well-known or collected but interest has been growing in the work which explores themes of work, the land, society and mortality.
Kath Foster grew up on the farm and at the age of six, made a chair to sit on at the bench in her parents’ workshop—the beginning of her lengthy exploration of meaning in furniture. Currently living in Kāpiti, she holds all the print editions of her father’s work.
Beckoning Land and her own photographs, Lost Objects, will be in MAHARA iti until April 6.