No time like now to look back

Central Otago landscape artist Denis Kent is having a retrospective exhibition at Henderson...
Central Otago landscape artist Denis Kent is having a retrospective exhibition at Henderson Gallery, Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery, in Alexandra. PHOTO: BETH MCARTHUR
Well-known Central Otago artist Denis Kent has been painting for more than 50 years 
so his community wanted to recognise his efforts. He tells Rebecca Fox about his latest exhibition.
 

Central Otago landscape artist Denis Kent does not want to wait until he is dead for a retrospective of his work to be held.

However, given the turbulent times of Covid-19, the 80-year-old admits to feeling some apprehension alongside excitement at his coming exhibition at the Henderson Gallery at Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery in Alexandra.

"I’ve seen a couple of retrospectives and they are wonderful but they [the artist] are normally dead, so I didn’t want to wait until I was dead for mine.

"I thought turning 80 was as good a reason as any to have an exhibition."

The Central Otago Art Society, Central Otago District Arts Trust and Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery agreed, saying they felt it was a unique opportunity to celebrate Kent’s efforts as a full-time artist and "an active and generous contributor" to the arts in Central Otago.

"The Central Otago Art Society considers Denis a local treasure. It is our wish that his life’s work can be celebrated to the same popularity as Elizabeth Stevens’ recent retrospective exhibition."

Time for a Break, by Denis Kent
Time for a Break, by Denis Kent

The exhibition has given Kent the opportunity to dig through his works and he decided to show pieces from 1960 to 2020.

"That’s a bloody long time, when you think about it."

Some are borrowed and some are from his own collection. He managed to narrow it down to 48 works, each with its own story alongside it.

"Ever since word of this came out I’ve had people phoning me saying they’ve got a work of mine. The phone’s gone silly. So I have to just stop now."

The earliest is a 1968 piece, selected for the Kelliher Art Award exhibition, of fishing boats at Carey’s Bay. He also kept the catalogue from the exhibition, which he is showing alongside the work.

And the exhibition closes with his latest work, his 53rd, for the Alexandra Blossom Festival Exhibition.

"I haven’t missed a year — it’s a bloody lifetime. I’m very pleased about that."

Painting has been central to Kent’s life for as long as he can remember. He paints in oils, as they are easier to work and have a depth of cover, on canvas or board from mostly photographs or sketches.

"I enjoy painting. When I finish one, I look forward to the next one."

Each painting helps an artist learn more about their craft, he says. He first learnt about oil painting from Tom Esplin at Dunedin Art School.

Kent has always painted landscapes, and over the years has incorporated people into them.

"People make the landscape."

After art school, he went on to work in commercial and display art, but painting "was in his blood".

In 1993, he gave up his job in Alexandra to paint full-time and moved to Makarora, where he built a house and studio.

"It was absolutely wonderful. I met so many people from around the world."

Kent moved back to Alexandra in 2007 and rekindled his involvement in the art community that started in 1964.

He has been a member of the Otago Art Society for 46 years and still remembers selling his first artwork, a painting of Lake Hayes, for 10 guineas at the 1966 Alexandra Blossom Festival Exhibition.

 

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