B.

Focused

Behind the scenes

Rudolf Gopas, who was born on 13 December in 1913, is perhaps best known for his expressionist paintings.

The Gallery has several fine examples of such works in its collection, but we also hold a number of his black and white photographs, some of which are interesting because of their subject – like the ones taken in Christchurch or at Kaikoura – and others because of their almost forensic attention to light, movement and texture.

Rudolf Gopas Untitled. Black and white photograph. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, presented to the Gallery by Airini Gopas 1986. Reproduced with permission

Rudolf Gopas Untitled. Black and white photograph. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, presented to the Gallery by Airini Gopas 1986. Reproduced with permission

Rudolf Gopas Untitled. Black and white photograph. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, presented to the Gallery by Airini Gopas 1986. Reproduced with permission

Rudolf Gopas Untitled. Black and white photograph. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, presented to the Gallery by Airini Gopas 1986. Reproduced with permission

Rudolf Gopas Hawkes Bay Ladies Champion Hitting Off First Hole at Waimairi Beach Golf Course. Black and white photograph. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, presented to the Gallery by Airini Gopas 1986. Reproduced with permission

Rudolf Gopas Hawkes Bay Ladies Champion Hitting Off First Hole at Waimairi Beach Golf Course. Black and white photograph. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, presented to the Gallery by Airini Gopas 1986. Reproduced with permission

Rudolf Gopas Brooklands. Black and white photograph. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, presented to the Gallery by Airini Gopas 1986. Reproduced with permission

Rudolf Gopas Brooklands. Black and white photograph. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, presented to the Gallery by Airini Gopas 1986. Reproduced with permission

It's fascinating to compare his photographs of old wharves and boats with his oil paintings on the same subject and to see how he translated the shapes and deep shadows caught on film into glowing shards of colour.

 

Rudolf Gopas Old Wharf, Sumner. Black and white photograph. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, presented to the Gallery by Airini Gopas 1986. Reproduced with permission

Rudolf Gopas Old Wharf, Sumner. Black and white photograph. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, presented to the Gallery by Airini Gopas 1986. Reproduced with permission

Rudolf Gopas The Old Wharf, Kaikoura 1958. Oil on board. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, purchased 1985. Reproduced with permission.

Rudolf Gopas The Old Wharf, Kaikoura 1958. Oil on board. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, purchased 1985. Reproduced with permission.

Rudolf Gopas Craypots and boats near old wharf, Kaikoura. Black and white photograph. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, presented to the Gallery by Airini Gopas 1986. Reproduced with permission

Rudolf Gopas Craypots and boats near old wharf, Kaikoura. Black and white photograph. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, presented to the Gallery by Airini Gopas 1986. Reproduced with permission

Rudolf Gopas Trawlers 1959. Oil on hardboard. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, purchased 1959. Reproduced with permission.

Rudolf Gopas Trawlers 1959. Oil on hardboard. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, purchased 1959. Reproduced with permission.

To see all of the images, go to the Rudolf Gopas Photographs set in My Gallery