Tony Fomison: Lost in the DarkTony Fomison: E ngaro ana i te pōuri

An exhibition of Tony Fomison’s paintings, featuring monsters, misfits, and medical deformities that explores what it means to be an outsider.

When | Āhea

18 Aug – 4 Nov 2018

Where | Ki hea

Toi Art, Level 4

Cost | Te utu

Free entry

Accessibility | E wātea ana ki
  • wheelchair accessible

In the late 1960s, dark things began to emerge from Tony Fomison’s paintings. His monsters, misfits, and medical deformities challenged polite society, and explored what it means to be an outsider.

This was a particularly troubled period in Fomison’s life. He had just returned to Christchurch from travels in Europe and was broke, grappling with drug addiction, and cynical about society.

Yet the humanity of his grotesque paintings resonated profoundly with many – making him one of the most important New Zealand painters of his generation.

Tony Fomison: Lost in the Dark is a collaboration between Wellington High School students and Te Papa.

Students workshopped the theme of ‘otherness’ in Fomison’s work, which helped shape our creative approach.

Response wall

Tony Fomison: Lost in the Dark is a collaboration between Wellington High School students and Te Papa.

Students workshopped the theme of ‘otherness’ in Fomison’s work, which helped shape our creative approach. They also designed a response wall – so you can share your own thoughts about Fomison’s paintings in the exhibition space.

Tony Fomison, Hill top watcher, 1976, oil on canvas. On loan from Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū; N Barrett Bequest Collection, purchased 2010

Installation view of Tony Fomison: Lost in the Dark, 2018. Photo by Maarten Holl. Te Papa

Installation view of Tony Fomison: Lost in the Dark, 2018. Photo by Maarten Holl. Te Papa

Artworks:

Tony Fomison, No!, 1971, oil on canvas. On loan from Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū

Tony Fomison, Study of hands on page 235 of ‘Roxburgh’s Common Skin Diseases’ 12th edition 1961, 1971, oil on hessian. Te Papa (1997-0007-01)

Tony Fomison, Christ, 1976, oil on canvas. Te Papa (1976-0034-1)

Installation view of Tony Fomison: Lost in the Dark, 2018. Photo by Maarten Holl. Te Papa

Artworks:

Tony Fomison, From a Mark Adams photo of a Sunnyside patient, 1972, oil on canvas. Te Papa (1998-0038-1)

Tony Fomison, Wildman,  1973, oil on canvas. Te Papa (1979-0035-4)

Tony Fomison, Facial hypertrichosis, 1970, oil on canvas. On loan from a private collection  

Tony Fomison, Malaria victim, New Guinea, 1970, oil on canvas. Te Papa (1998-0019-1)

Tony Fomison, Hill top watcher, 1976, oil on canvas. On loan from Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū

Tony Fomison, Detail for a dancing skeleton, 1970, oil on hessian. On loan from a private collection

Installation view of Tony Fomison: Lost in the Dark, 2018. Photo by Maarten Holl. Te Papa

Installation view of Tony Fomison: Lost in the Dark, 2018. Photo by Maarten Holl. Te Papa

Foreground artwork:

Tony Fomison, Portrait of a lag (kitchen), 1970, oil on canvas. Te Papa (1972-0037-1)

Real Modern tells a vibrant and varied story of real life in this compelling era through images and, above all, objects.

Installation view of Tony Fomison: Lost in the Dark, 2018. Photo by Maarten Holl. Te Papa

Foreground artwork:

Tony Fomison, Detail for a dancing skeleton, 1970, oil on hessian. On loan from a private collection

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