Ans Westra
b. 1936
Portrait of James K Baxter 1971
black and white photograph
private collection, Wairarapa
Image Size:
180 x 154mm
(7.1 x
6.1in)
Framed Size:
405 x 365mm
(15.9 x
14.4in)
Stock Number: 32209
Price category between $3,000 and $5,000
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Ans Westra is one of New Zealands pre-eminent
photographers. Born in Holland, she immigrated to
New Zealand in 1957 and has worked as a professional photographer for nearly fifty years. Best known for her photographs documenting Maori, Westra has made a strong imprint on the imaging of a people and the reality of cross-cultural relations and representation. Themes such as 1970's counter culture, youth rebellion, Maori social and political life have recurred throughout her career. Credited with playing a key role in establishing photography as a serious art form in New Zealand, the artist's work has been included in many crucial photography exhibitions and Westra has recorded iconic moments in our National history, including the Maori Land March of 1975, occupation of Bastion Point and the fallout of the 1981 Springbok Tour protests. This striking portrait of the great poet, James K. Baxter, cleverly captures the subject's complex persona, hinting at the controversy that surrounded him. Known as a dramatist, literary critic, social commentator, Baxter was largely incompatible with mainstream society, which he
often parodied in his work.
 Contact Ferner about this Artwork
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