Peter Bush’s All Black photography show kicks off

Peter Bush’s All Black photography show kicks off in ‘heartland’ Masterton

27 April 2010

Aratoi in Masterton will roll out the red carpet for ‘rugby royalty’ in May, at the launch of Hard on the Heels, an exhibition by acclaimed New Zealand photojournalist Peter Bush.

Rugby great Sir Colin Meads will formally open the exhibition, which features over 100 photographs from Peter Bush’s celebrated 60-year association with the All Blacks.

Aratoi is the first venue for this nationally touring exhibition, which is proudly sponsored by Canon New Zealand. The exhibition will tour to over 13 venues nationwide. Demand is such that it will be shown concurrently in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin during the period of the Rugby World Cup next year.
The Aratoi opening will see former All Black captions, players, commentators and administrators in attendance, plus Peter’s photography colleagues, friends and a healthy sprinkling of the local rugby community.

Aratoi director Marcus Boroughs: “It is a privilege to launch the show in Masterton. Peter is a national treasure, and his images depict the golden years of our national game. Hard on the Heels is a goldmine of memories and great moments. We think this exhibition kicks off the feel good factor the World Cup should be all about!”
Peter Bush started working on the sidelines as a young cadet for the New Zealand Herald in 1949, at a game between the All Blacks and the Wallabies. Since then, he has photographed hundreds of matches at home and overseas, enjoying privileged access to the All Black teams, both on and off the field.

According to Bush, photographing the All Blacks was "a total workout". In the early days, he often donned football boots and chased the players from the sidelines to get the crucial shot – a proximity to the action that is now impossible in the era of professional rugby. In the era before satellite television, his wired photographs were some of the first images of far-off matches to be seen by local fans.
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Peter Bush’s photographs range from the controversial to humorous behind-the-scenes moments and feature All Black legends, from Sir Brian Lahore, Bob Scott and Sir Wilson Whineray, to Ian Kirkpatrick, Colin Meads, Graham Mourie and Jonah Lomu, along with star players from other rugby nations.
The exhibition also includes a set of mural sized works and a DVD in which Peter Bush recounts the stories behind his iconic images.

Former Masterton mayor Bob Francis, who serves on the International Rugby Board, has known Peter Bush for 40 years and says he will be pleased that the exhibition is ‘kicking off’ at Aratoi.

“Peter has a great affinity with heartland rugby. He was at the Mangatainoka game a few months ago and was in his element there, in the rain and the mud. He’s so much at home in that environment,” he says.

Bush’s work has appeared in countless publications worldwide, and he has also published three books. His biography Peter Bush: A Life in Focus was published last year.

Hard on the Heels, Capturing the All Blacks – Peter Bush, 15 May – 11 July 2010.
Proudly sponsored by Canon New Zealand.
Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art & History T: 06 370 0001 www.aratoi.co.nz.

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