Ancient Greek lens for NZ art

Christchurch visual artist Marian Maguire says creating her art often involves working on puzzles, and wrestling with questions but not having all the answers.

She gave the 22nd A.D. Trendall lecture, titled ‘‘Straying from Myth’’, in Dunedin earlier this week.

Ms Maguire, born in Christchurch, is best known for her lithographs and etchings which combine ancient Greek vase painting with New Zealand colonial history.

Her talk marked the opening of the Australasian Society of Classical Studies conference, which is being attended by 180 people, 130 from overseas.

Her talk focused mainly on the ‘‘making and reception’’ of her New Zealand colonial series: ‘‘The Odyssey of Captain Cook, The Labours of Herakles and Titokowaru’s Dilemma’’.