Institutions weigh up displaying artworks

A work (pictured in 2011) by John Middleditch was part of Tūhura Otago Museum’s Southern Land, Southern People Gallery. Photo: Peter Mcintosh

Warning: This story deals with child sexual abuse.

Dunedin institutions are re-evaluating displaying artworks by sculptor John Middleditch following fresh allegations of sexual abuse.

The abuse is alleged by a Dunedin grandmother who is calling for the prominent water fountain in the Dunedin Hospital, sculpted by Middleditch, to be removed and not relocated to the new site.

RNZ reported the woman — who does not want to be named — made a formal complaint to police late last year that the late Dunedin-born artist sexually abused her when she was 11 in 1972.

Police confirmed Middleditch was convicted in an unrelated case in December 1976 of indecently assaulting a girl aged between 12 and 16 and of other indecent assaults.

Reports in the Otago Daily Times from the same month show Middleditch was convicted of seven charges of indecently assaulting girls aged between 8 and 11, and one of attempting to indecently assault a girl.

Since the story was published it has emerged more Dunedin institutions hold his works.

Tūhura Otago Museum director Dr Ian Griffin confirmed a work was on display in its Southern Land, Southern People Gallery.

The museum had been unaware of the artist’s history of offending and was "saddened" to learn of further allegations.

"We acknowledge the potential distress ... the piece may cause."

The museum was committed to fostering a safe and respectful environment, Dr Griffin said.

"We take these concerns seriously and are actively engaging in discussions to determine the most appropriate course of action."

Mercy parish priest Fr Michael Hishon confirmed a pair of external panels carved by Middleditch used to be on display in the foyer of St Patrick’s Basilica, in South Dunedin, prior to the church’s refurbishment.

At present, they were "sitting in a bit of a cupboard", their future undecided, because there had not been a place to put them.

He was unaware of Middleditch’s convictions until recently and said it would be inappropriate for the panels to be displayed again.

The authority to decide what was displayed in the church was delegated to him by the Catholic Bishop of Dunedin, of whom he would need to seek further advice, and they would have to "very carefully consider if it ever went up again", Fr Hishon said.

Bishop Michael Dooley said he was not aware of the panels and it was "very helpful" they were not displayed, as not to retraumatise people.

Former University of Otago art history lecturer Mark Stocker said he strongly sympathised with the victim and called Middleditch’s actions "dreadful", but disagreed that works of his should be removed.

Sculptor John Middleditch works in his Dunedin studio in the 1980s. Photo: supplied

"If we condemn Middleditch and say he ought to be invisible, then we ought to extend that to Bacon, Picasso, Gauguin."

The argument there was a corollary between being a good person and a good artist was an "absolute fallacy", and to judge an artwork fairly, viewers needed to suspend their disbelief of their dislike for people.

"If Paris can live with Picasso and New York can, then Dunedin should live with Middleditch.

"With great respect to the victim, banning him would be an indication of small-town mentality."

University of Otago registrar David Clark confirmed a 1969 sculpture by Middleditch was situated on the Dunedin campus.

They were looking into whether the university had any other artworks by him and were taking the matter under "careful consideration".

Its Hocken archive lists at least 20 Middleditch pieces and related items in its collection.

A Dunedin City Council spokesman said the Dunedin Public Art Gallery’s collection included 19 artworks by Middleditch.

"None are currently on public display, but we take a careful, considered and audience-focused approach when preparing all our exhibitions."