Chrys Hill

Chrys Hill has recently returned to Whanganui after living overseas for many years in Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

Chrys has a Honours in Painting from Auckland University where he studied under Colin McCahon, and a Masters of Fine Art from RMIT University in Melbourne.

Chrys has been exhibiting in New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, India and the UK since 1969. The development of his work shows a desire to reformat the presentation of traditional Western painting. He has exhibited paintings as zigzags, scrolls on desks or walls and draped across the floor. He adopts a challenging stance to traditional media and frequently includes a variety of techniques in a single work. Images can be printed, collaged, scratched and gouged in thick impasto or lavished in gold leaf.

The complexities of Chrys’ works are possibly best summed up by critic Stefan Tengbland when he wrote of a retrospective exhibition … “this show is a real pleasure and will allow for an ecstatic experience for those in the know. At the very least, it is a fact finding mission for those unsure of their visual literacy”.

Dragonflies: the inspiration for Chrys Hill’s latest work

Many cultures have a spiritual attitude towards the Dragonfly. In the West they tend to be viewed as something a bit confusing and even to be a little bit afraid of. Eastern cultures see them in a much more positive light. The Chinese consider them to signal of change and impending good luck.

There is a Maori story that a Chief called Rakeiao called up masses of Dragonflies to help defeat his enemies in battles by flying in their faces and confusing them. To this day the Marae of Rakeiao ancestors see significance in the arrival of a Dragonfly. They claim the Dragonfly is a type of warning and to pay attention to the motive of visitors.

Overall Dragonflies are seen as symbols of patience and change or a positive rebirth. This comes mostly because of the unusual life cycle of the Dragonfly. The eggs are laid in or near water and after some days hatch out into nymphs. The nymph is not a creature of any beauty and it is in this state that the majority of the Dragonfly’s live cycle occurs. It can take several years and many changes of ‘skins’ before the nymph crawls up a stem of water grass to emerge from pond life to an adult life above the ground involving flight. The adult stage is the one that we usually see. All iridescent and glistening with erratic flight patterns, hovering just above the surface of water. This adult phase is a short one and at best only lasts a few days, just long enough to lay more eggs in the pond. From an egg, to a nymph, to a beautiful adult. From life in murky water to one glittering in the air. A symbol of change and optimism. The World needs plenty of this.

Art by the River is a modern Whanganui gallery, opened in December 2024. The gallery features a mix of emerging and established contemporary New Zealand artists, alongside an exclusive art Collectables selection of New Zealand fine art prints and paintings. As an art dealership and collector, we include rare and sought-after artworks by internationally recognised artists such as Gretchen Albrecht, Banksy, Damien Hirst, Ralph Hotere and, Andy Warhol. We are committed to supporting NZ artists through a regular art gallery exhibition in-house, connecting both NZ and international art collectors with meaningful artwork, and contributing to Whanganui's unique cultural environment.