Colin McCahon: A Question of Faith
Teaching Aids and Rocks in the Sky

Teachings Aids 1975 explores a new concern for McCahon. Observing the learning processes being undertaken by his young grandson, he was prompted to consider the way in which society passes knowledge from one generation to another through the use of language, numbers, systems and charts. His response was to develop images that, while still playing on a numerical sequence derived from the Stations of the Cross, at the same time present diagrams of different ways to reach the final point/number. In so doing, each panel reflects the choices and options every person is faced with in their life.

The genesis for the Rocks in the Sky 1976 paintings was a comment by McCahon's grandson. On seeing dark storm-clouds while visiting the beach at Muriwai, he described them as 'rocks in the sky'. McCahon immediately sensed the power of this image as a visual metaphor for the stumbling blocks and impediments that occur in each individual's life. Likewise Noughts and Crosses 1976 suggested an analogy for the choices everyone is required to make. Some lead to positive benefits – and perhaps even the possibility of resurrection – while others offer the horror of the bottomless abyss.

 

 

Upper image:

Colin McCAHON
New Zealander 1919–87
Teaching aids 2 (June) 1974
synthetic polymer paint on paper (10 sheets)
218.4 x 364.0 cm (overall)
Private collection, Auckland, New Zealand
On loan to Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, Auckland, New Zealand
Reproduced with the permission of the Colin McCahon Research and Publication Trust

 

Lower image:

Colin McCAHON
New Zealander 1919–87
Rocks in the sky, series 2, no. 5: The lagoon. Plankton 1976
synthetic polymer paint on paper
73.0 x 109.5 cm
Private collection, Auckland, New Zealand
On loan to Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, Auckland, New Zealand
Reproduced with the permission of the Colin McCahon Research and Publication Trust