1. COPYRIGHT © 2010 HAMISH ALLAN. USED BY PERMISSION OF THE ARTIST.
Rose Tinted Glasses, 2010, by Hamish Allan. Acrylic on canvas, 91 cm x 91 cm.
STRANGE
BY LOUISE BUYO
WITH A LONG COASTLINE of sand and jagged cliffs, thick alpine
PARADISE:
forests that give way to arid badlands, sharp mountain peaks that
thrust skyward from earthquakes and volcanos, and valleys carved
by glaciers, New Zealand’s truly astounding geographical diversity
has inspired generations of the country’s artists. For landscape
painter Hamish Allan (http://www.hamishallan.co.nz), it is a
The Landscapes of boundless subject “unable to be ignored.”
“The uniqueness of the New Zealand landscape can be attrib-
Hamish Allan
uted to a number of factors: its geological structure, its relative
newness as a landform, its geographical isolation and its diversity
of indigenous flora and fauna.”
16 PROFESSIONAL ARTIST APRIL 2011

2. The 44-year-old painter believes New Zealand’s
extraordinary environment is an indelible part of the
“I think that the landscape is
national identity.
“I think that the landscape is integral,” he states. “[It
integral, a foundation on which
is] a foundation on which we extend our roots and dwell we extend our roots and dwell
as people and as a society. As an inhabitant of this land, I
am conscious of the human influences, both now and his- as people and as a society.”
torically.”
Allan’s art is tied closely to the relationship between —Hamish Allan
New Zealand’s natural beauty and its human inhabitants.
His paintings often include both pastoral and urban ele-
ments, exploring the tension he feels exists between man
and nature in the countryside. Allan combines sweeping
vistas and iconic architecture into scenes of space and
serenity by leaving out any unnecessary details. Filled with
green rolling hills and clear blue skies, the landscapes are
fresh and bright, but devoid of people, despite the obvious
signs of life from houses and automobiles. The towns seem
both remote and cloistered, surrounded by large expanses
of sea, sky and land with only the occasional fowl in flight
to emphasize the absence of human beings.
“The lone bird represents freedom — a free spirit
unconstrained by rule or shackle,” explains Allan. “The
the solitude of its lone presence in a great expanse of land
reflects the human condition of existing together yet feel-
ing alone. I think many of my paintings reflect an isola-
tion or stillness which both is calming and yet a little dis-
quieting. I like the paradox it creates. It hints at the exis-
tentialism of being human.”
That solitude is an intrinsic part of New Zealand,
which remained unsettled for 80 million years, until the
13th century.
“New Zealand’s short history of human habitation and
the influence of dwelling and farming practices also shape
the form and characteristics of the land.”
Since 2006, Hamish has been developing a stylized
visual language with strong lines and repeating forms to
interpret “emotive and physical” aspects of the landscape.
Using a “strong element of pattern and geometry,” Allan
brings together terrestrial and artificial shapes, taking great
care “to consider and plan the composition, endeavoring to
put the right shapes in the right colors in the right places.”
“Currently I am exploring ideas of pattern and repeti-
COPYRIGHT © 2010 HAMISH ALLAN. USED BY PERMISSION OF THE ARTIST.
tion of form and color — both naturally occurring and
manmade,” he states. “The forms that are reflected in the
natural landscape are also present in the pitch of a roof
line or the subtle curve of a car bonnet.” PA
Hamish Allan lives in Christchurch, New Zealand, with his
partner and two children. He is represented by Bryce Gallery
(www.brycegallery.co.nz) and The Artist’s Room
(www.theartistsroom.co.nz). His painting Life at Six was a
finalist in the Adam National Portrait exhibition in 2010. His
work was also recently included in the book Acrylic
Innovation: Styles and Techniques Featuring 64 Visionary
Artists by Nancy Reyner.
A former art consultant and curatorial assistant, Louise Buyo
is the Managing Editor of Professional Artist. To see a portfo-
lio of her writing, visit her Web site at www.louisebuyo.com. Arborescent, 2010, by Hamish Allan. Acrylic on canvas, 92
Louise can be reached at lbuyo@professionalartistmag.com. cm x 46 cm.
www.professionalartistmag.com 17