‘I envy you to be on your farm. You are one of the masters’ Letter dated September 10th, 1973 from the artist Frederic Hundertwasser
The drive from Auckland to Waiwawa today serves as a direct metaphor for Michael Illingworth’s journey as an artist – not away but to this destination. Not fleeing the city but embracing the life on the land as a farmer and as an artist. It is our hope that this catalogue serves as evidence of not just Michael Illingworth’s achievement as an artist, but also provides insight into a courageous individual whose commitment to the land and his art is both inspirational and unique within New Zealand culture. Art+Object would like to thank the Illingworth family for the generous access they have provided to the family archive and private documents that have assisted in the preparation of this catalogue. We would also like to thank a number of people who have contributed to this catalogue with their words, advice, permissions and assistance: Caroline McBride and Geoffrey Heath at the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Ta¯maki, John Perry, Len Bell, Gerrard Friedlander, William Dart, Kevin Ireland, Greg O’Brien, Linda Tyler, Laurence Simmons, Emil McAvoy, Jim Barr and Mary Barr, Hilary McLeavey, Hamish Keith, Billy Apple and Mary Morrison. A+O would also like to acknowledge Aaron Lister and Damian Skinner, curators of the 2001 career survey exhibition A Tourist in Paradise Lost at the City Gallery, Wellington. The publication for that exhibition has been the source of much factual information referred to in this catalogue, most particularly in the chronology section.
Hamish Coney
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