25 Jul 2015

Paul Brobbel on Len Lye

From Saturday Morning, 9:40 am on 25 July 2015

Len Lye curator Paul Brobbel. Photo: RNZ/Robin Martin

New Plymouth has long been regarded as the home of maverick artist Len Lye's work and now it's official with the opening of the Len Lye Centre in conjunction with the Govett Brewster Art Gallery.

Christchurch-born in 1901 and based in New York eventually, Len Lye is regarded as one of New Zealand's most influential modern artists.

Len Lye curator Paul Brobbel explains how New Plymouth became the home of the collection.

Listen 20:03

Add to playlist

The Len Lye Centre in New Plymouth. Image: Patrick Reynolds

Simon Rees and Len Lyes Four Fountains. Photo by Glenn Jeffrey.

Lye's Four Fountains in the centre's Large Works Gallery. Photo Robin Martin.

Len Lye's Universe. Photo Robin Martin.

Len Lye's Grass. Photo Robin Martin.

Len Lye Centre curator Paul Brobble. Photo Robin Martin.

Mirror image - the $12m Len Lye Centre in New Plymouth. Photo Glenn Jeffrey

Blank canvas - the $12m Len Lye Centre in New Plymouth before its stainless steel facade was fitted. Photo Glenn Jeffrey

Clock tower view - the $12m Len Lye Centre in New Plymouth. Photo Glenn Jeffrey

Mirror Mirror - the $12m Len Lye Centre in New Plymouth. Photo Glenn Jeffrey

Staggering - the Stag on the White Hart Hotel checks out the $12m Len Lye Centre across the street in New Plymouth. Photo Glenn Jeffrey

The Len Lye Centre in New Plymouth. Photo Robin Martin.

The Len Lye Centre in New Plymouth. Image: Patrick Reynolds

Len Lye - Rainbow Dance - 1936. Courtesy the British Post Office, Len Lye Foundation, Govett-Brewster Art Gallery and New Zealand Film Archive.

Len Lye, Colour Flight, 1938. Courtesy of the Len Lye Foundation and Nga Taonga Sound and Vision.

Subscribe to Saturday Morning

Podcast (MP3) Oggcast (Vorbis)

Paul Brobbel on Len Lye

Recent stories from Saturday Morning

Get the RNZ app

Subscribe to Saturday Morning