A photographic study of the changing face of small town New Zealand
With a keen eye for detail and irony, Wellington poet and photographer, Mary Macpherson has spent seven years travelling around the country documenting the changing face of small town New Zealand. This has culminated in an intriguing exhibition of 46 colour photographs along with a significant new book of New Zealand photography, entitled Old New World.
Lopdell House Gallery is proud to be the publishers of Mary’s book and will be touring her exhibition to regional art galleries across the country over the coming years.
The striking colour photographs feature buildings, houses, statues and murals to tell the story of a shift from the remains of the traditional New Zealand of the 1950s and 60s to places of boom and prosperity that look very different to our remembered past.
“Within that major story arc, I wanted to show the major social and economic trends I saw over the seven years – towns painting up the main street to attract custom and celebrate their identity, places that remained resolutely themselves and those that were heading into decline,” – Mary Macpherson.
The book features an interview between noted art writer Gregory O’Brien and Mary Macpherson and 62 full page images. The photographs cover towns in many regions including Southland, Otago, Canterbury, Marlborough, Wellington, Taranaki, Manawatu-Whanganui, Gisborne and the Bay of Plenty.
Image: Mary Macpherson. Woodville, Manawatu, Whanganui, (2004).- detail