Self Portrait (Philip Woollaston, after Toss Woollaston)
Self Portrait (Philip Woollaston, after Toss Woollaston) is a Performance Painting created live, at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery, Te Pūkenga Whakaata during the exhibition, ‘Toss Woollaston: Figures from Life’, curated by .Dr Jane Davidson-Ladd. Well-known for his landscape painting, this exhibition surveys the entirety of Woollaston’s portrait oeuvre, revealing its critical importance to his practice.
Woollaston’s original 1976 Self-Portrait is based on a much earlier line drawing by Woollaston, of 1942, now in the collection of the Hocken Library. The drawing appeared on the cover of Woollaston’s 1962 published lecture, 'The Far-away Hills: a meditation on New Zealand landscape'. Featuring the artist staring intensely out from under a straw hat, the 1942 drawing is based on Vincent van Gogh’s famous 'Self-Portrait in a Straw Hat' (1887) in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Self Portrait (Philip Woollaston, after Toss Woollaston), pays homage to Toss’ original 1976 Self Portrait, featuring his now 82 year old son, Philip, as the living canvas for the new portrait painted on 1 December 2024.
Self Portrait (Philip Woollaston, after Toss Woollaston). 1 December 2024.
Self Portrait. Toss Woollaston, oil on canvas, 1972
Philip Woollaston and I meet at the NZ Portrait Gallery to discuss the new work based on his father, Toss Woollaston’s Self Portrait of 1972.
Portrait set-up, NZ Portrait Gallery
Philip, work in progress
Philip, portrait preparation
Philip, work in progress
Philip, work in progress