Story: Hawke’s Bay region
Artist Rita Angus was born in Hastings and spent part of her childhood in Napier. She left to attend the Canterbury College of Art but returned to Hawke’s Bay for visits throughout her life. In 1960 Angus designed a mural for a local school, as a memorial for school children killed during the 1931 earthquake. Despite the subject matter, the work has a very positive feeling about it – though ruined buildings are depicted, so is the new town that emerged later. The use of light colours and the central position given to the sun enhances this feeling.
Courtesy of the Rita Angus Estate
About this item
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Watercolour by Rita Angus
Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.