This Thing in the Mirror

Art history in New Zealand has been dominated by landscape paintings, but there is a complementary field of portrait painting which, until now, has not received the same attention. This book redresses the balance a little by presenting a selection of self portraits by well-known New Zealand artists. This Thing in the Mirror is not a comprehensive survey of New Zealand self-portraiture nor a thorough academic study. Instead, in a style intended to appeal to the general reader as well as the art specialist, it seeks to peel back a few layers, offer some illuminating points and ponderings, and drop an anecdote in here or there. At its most basic level this book celebrates and records some of New Zealand's most inventive personalities. Like the best of companions these self-portraits amuse, confound and engage you, and add some warm human lore to the art history shelves. The artists are arranged alphabetically to emphasise the randomness of the selection and also to allow them to sit cheek-by-jowl with interesting and unlikely neighbours. Extended commentaries by the author give an insight into the background of each painting.