26 November 2008
Media release
McCahon Painting Coming Home
Te Papa is pleased to announce that its bid for Colin McCahon's painting, Mondrian's Last Chrysanthemum, 1976, was
successful. The painting was purchased for AUD$312,000 (including a 20% buyer's premium).
The painting has been in a private collection in Australia for the past 12 years and was auctioned by Melbourne-based
fine arts dealer Deutscher and Hackett yesterday.
Jonathan Mane-Wheoki, Te Papa's Director Art and Collection Services is thrilled the painting will be returning to New
Zealand.
'The series Scared is widely regarded as one of McCahon's signature sets of works and it's wonderful to know that
Mondrian's Last Chrysanthemum will form part of the national collection', Mr Mane-Wheoki said today.
Te Papa also owns Scared (I am Scared, I stand up) purchased this year and the Govett-Brewster Gallery has Am I Scared
in its collection. The two other paintings from the series are held in private collections in New Zealand and
Switzerland.
'This painting is a powerful statement about the threat of nuclear war. It exemplifies some of the major themes in
McCahon's work - doubt and hope, life and death - and it is also one of his most beautiful works,' said William McAloon,
Te Papa's Curator of Historical New Zealand Art.
The price paid for the painting fell in the middle range of independent valuations commissioned by Te Papa.
Plans are already in motion to put the painting on display to the public as soon as possible.
ENDS