| Matakana Pictures Exhibitions Artists |
Richard Collins born in Wellington 1941. Educated in Christchurch.
His grandfather, an architect, and his grandmother, an artist, Chelsea Art School; encouraged artistic activity and interest in native bush.
Particularly interested in literature, jazz music, classics, painting and paid off a 35 mm. Paxette camera by gardening.
Subscription for ‘Life’ magazine; Magnum photographers;
‘Esquire’ magazine photo essays including Bruce Davidson, Robert Frank.
1961 - 1964 attended Auckland University, Dip. Architecture. Considered Auckland to be a crucible of contact for life and art; offering freedom of expression and tolerance; Richard shared flats with students. Dilworth Terrace; friends, Clive Wilson, artist, Gary Baigent, who had a small darkroom, explained rudiments of printing and negative development. Considered Baigent an influence in spontaneous 35 mm. photography.
Saw Lartigue, Cartier Bresson; Used Pentax and Leica.
Following graduation, spent 9 months in Australia. Looked at Cezanne, Bonnard etc. Victoria Gallery.
Early 70’s experimented with 4x5 Linhof view camera; preferred Leica 3F and M3.
1967-73 worked for JASMAD architects, Auckland.
1967, married Marie McMahon, artist, and lived in Franklin Road.
1974, moved to Pakiri with wife, Marie, and daughter, Rebecca. Designed and built house on hill at Pakiri, and lived there since. Grows grapevines and olives for pressing.
1997, the rigour of Koudelka’s work, (the Gypsies), an influence; Saw exhibition of Koudelka and Cartier Bresson in Paris 1997, at the International Centre of Photography. Toured France, Italy, Spain. Collins has a love of Mediterranean history and culture.
Read: Zen, I Ching; Jung; Alan Watts.
Bibliography:
National Gallery, Te Papa.
McDougal Gallery, Christchurch.
Waikato Art Gallery
Auckland Art Gallery
1974 “3 Photographers”
Publications:
3 Photographers
Landfall
Photo Forum
Visual Dialect
Active Eye
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