Peter Siddell
Encyclopedia
Sir Peter Graham Siddell, KNZM
, QSO
(1935-2011) was a noted New Zealand
artist.
Siddell was born in Auckland
and educated at Mt Albert Grammar School and the Auckland College of Education
. In 1960 he married artist Sylvia Siddell. They live in Auckland and have two adult daughters. Siddell had painted full-time since 1972 when he held his first solo show. He has since taken part in many exhibitions in both public and commercial galleries.
Siddell's realist paintings are identified mainly with depictions of the environs of Auckland. While his works appear to be records of actual places, his paintings have a subjective component, and might be better described as magic realism
than truly realistic. The cityscapes and townscapes in Siddell's paintings are rendered empty, but with the unnerving suggestion of events occurring outside the picture area. In this sense, his work can be compared to the metaphysical
works of Giorgio de Chirico
.
Siddell's work is held in the permanent collections of all New Zealand major public art galleries, as well as many private, corporate and institutional collections. He received a QSO
in the 1990 New year's honours list, and a DCNZM in 2008.
In 2008, Siddell was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour.
In February 2011, a comprehensive survey of his art career was published by Random House New Zealand, "The Art of Peter Siddell."
Siddell died on October 24, 2011.
Siddell is only the second New Zealand artist to be knighted: the first was Sir Toss Woollaston
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
, QSO
Queen's Service Order
The Queen's Service Order was established by Queen Elizabeth II on 13 March 1975, awarded by the government of New Zealand "for valuable voluntary service to the community or meritorious and faithful services to the Crown or similar services within the public sector, whether in elected or...
(1935-2011) was a noted New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
artist.
Siddell was born in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
and educated at Mt Albert Grammar School and the Auckland College of Education
Auckland College of Education
Auckland College of Education was a college of education located in Auckland, New Zealand. On 1 September 2004 it amalgamated with the University of Auckland and formed a new Faculty of Education with the university’s School of Education.-History:...
. In 1960 he married artist Sylvia Siddell. They live in Auckland and have two adult daughters. Siddell had painted full-time since 1972 when he held his first solo show. He has since taken part in many exhibitions in both public and commercial galleries.
Siddell's realist paintings are identified mainly with depictions of the environs of Auckland. While his works appear to be records of actual places, his paintings have a subjective component, and might be better described as magic realism
Magic realism
Magic realism or magical realism is an aesthetic style or genre of fiction in which magical elements blend with the real world. The story explains these magical elements as real occurrences, presented in a straightforward manner that places the "real" and the "fantastic" in the same stream of...
than truly realistic. The cityscapes and townscapes in Siddell's paintings are rendered empty, but with the unnerving suggestion of events occurring outside the picture area. In this sense, his work can be compared to the metaphysical
Metaphysical art
Metaphysical art , style of painting that flourished mainly between 1911 and 1920 in the works of the Italian artists Giorgio de Chirico and Carlo Carrà. The movement began with Chirico, whose dreamlike works with sharp contrasts of light and shadow often had a vaguely threatening, mysterious quality...
works of Giorgio de Chirico
Giorgio de Chirico
Giorgio de Chirico was a pre-Surrealist and then Surrealist Italian painter born in Volos, Greece, to a Genovese mother and a Sicilian father. He founded the scuola metafisica art movement...
.
Siddell's work is held in the permanent collections of all New Zealand major public art galleries, as well as many private, corporate and institutional collections. He received a QSO
QSO
QSO may refer to:*Quasi-stellar object or quasar*Queen's Service Order, New Zealand honour*Queensland Symphony Orchestra*The Quantic Soul Orchestra*QSO, a Q code used in commercial and amateur radio communication*The IATA airport code for Sousse, Tunisia...
in the 1990 New year's honours list, and a DCNZM in 2008.
In 2008, Siddell was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour.
In February 2011, a comprehensive survey of his art career was published by Random House New Zealand, "The Art of Peter Siddell."
Siddell died on October 24, 2011.
Siddell is only the second New Zealand artist to be knighted: the first was Sir Toss Woollaston
Toss Woollaston
Sir Mountford Tosswill "Toss" Woollaston was one of the most important New Zealand painters of the 20th century.Born in Toko, Taranaki on April 11, 1910, Woollaston studied art at the Canterbury School of Art in Christchurch...