Painter's works of protest

Public protests against French nuclear bomb tests in the Pacific Ocean led to legislation in 1987 declaring New Zealand nuclear free.

Blast! Pat Hanly – the Painter and his Protests is an exhibition touring the country and has been showing at the Millennium Art Gallery in Blenheim since Friday.

It contains large, colourful paintings by Hanly , black-and-white photographs by Gil Hanly and Claudia Pond Eyley, and a newly published children's book by Trish Gribben recounting that time in New Zealand's history.

With things to appeal to viewers of different ages, the exhibition was a good one to have in the gallery at this time of the year, says Millennium director Cressida Bishop.

Those old enough to remember the 1980s will see the photographs and remember the years when people turned out in their thousands to make politicians take notice of their concerns.

One of the black-and-white photographs shows protesters holding a large banner, declaring: "If the people lead, the leaders will follow." Another asks: "What are you going to be when you blow up?" "It's an opportunity for young people to learn about that time," Bishop says.

All visitors with time to spare can watch a long documentary on a DVD, playing on continuous rotate in a corner of the room where Hanly's large, colourful pictures hang.

Hanly was born in 1932 and helped revitalise New Zealand art in the second half of the 20th century. Subjects for his works ranged from the domestic and personal to social and political issues.

An exhibition press release identifies passion and protest, light, love and life as the themes for his anti-nuclear works.

"Pat Hanly was a small man with a big-hearted, wide-seeing view of the world. He was bold and brave.

"All through his life he painted and spoke up about political and social things that disturbed him, especially nuclear testing when France was exploding bombs at Moruroa, in French Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean," the report says.

"With this book and exhibition, we hope to engage an audience of all ages and tell a very New Zealand story of the power of art to move hearts and minds."

Blast! Pat Hanley – the Painter and his Protests will continue to show at the Millennium Art Gallery during January.