Former Selwyn Toogood tv show panellist to show possibly NZ's largest body of nude works

Former Selwyn Toogood television show Beauty and the Beast panellist Tui McBeath will unveil possibly New Zealand’s largest body of nude oil paintings in Christchurch next month.

McBeath will show 22 new nude paintings at Archibald's Audi on October 16 and 17. McBeath said she produced the evocative body of works to celebrate the human form and had aimed to produce 25 paintings.

``I have spent every spare moment over a two year period painting with that goal in mind; I paused in that quest to paint my son-in-law's portrait for his birthday in August, which meant I ran out of time to reach my goal of 25 nude paintings.

``I really started painting nudes to play with light and shade to create mood and curve dimensions; I found it fascinating to watch a painting grow and see three dimensions emerging from a flat two-dimensional canvas. I kept painting more and more nudes in different sizes and then with introduced elements like fabric and pounamu. It has been an exciting journey of discovery.

``I'd like people to see that the human form is great to look at, be that a close up of feet, a male back or a woman's breasts. My paintings aren't in any way shameful; I'd like to think that people coming along to my exhibition will be pleasantly surprised by their reactions. I would be very surprised if people took any offence.’’

And did the September 4 Christchurch earthquake impact on preparing for the exhibition?

``Eight of my canvasses were in Studio Works to be framed and on the morning of September 4, I had to make a mercy dash into town to rescue them after earthquake damage threatened access to the studio. I was just lucky where others have not been so lucky,’’ McBeath said today.

``This is my first and probably last major work in body forms; I would like to return to portraits and I am seeking commission work in that area.’’

About 150 people are expected to attend the VIP opening night on October 15. McBeath started painting almost seven years ago. She found nudes a diversion from the concentrated detail focus that was required of her portrait pieces.

McBeath studied physical education in Denmark and French in Paris and travelled widely to unusual places like Iran, Libya, Afghanistan and Pakistan. She was shot at and stoned by Turks, man-handled by Algerians and beaten up on a Turkish train.