High above Wellington city stands Dilemma Hill. Its name hints at a story. A story waiting to be unearthed. This isn’t just a hill. It’s a canvas. A canvas for Roger Mortimer’s artistic interpretation.
For sixteen years Mortimer’s art has explored the human condition. His work is a blend of beauty and brutality. It speaks of our capacity for both great good and terrible evil. Dilemma Hill itself inspired a major exhibition. This exhibition showcased Mortimer’s work. It spanned from his early calligraphic pieces to his later explorations of Dante’s Divine Comedy.
Mortimer’s paintings are not easily categorized. They invite multiple readings. Psychological and political interpretations intertwine. Medieval imagery is juxtaposed with New Zealand marine charts. This powerful combination reflects contemporary global turmoil. The result is art that is both menacing and delicate. It is a reflection of our world’s complexities. It is a reminder of humanity’s capacity for both destruction and redemption.
Imagine the artist himself standing on Dilemma Hill. He is surrounded by the city’s bustle. Yet the hill itself provides a sense of quiet contemplation. The wind whispers through the grass. The harbour stretches out below. Mortimer’s vision takes shape before him. He captures the essence of Wellington’s spirit. He captures the anxieties and hopes of our time.
The exhibition featuring Mortimer’s Dilemma Hill works was a collaboration. Pataka Art + Museum and the Gus Fisher Gallery joined forces. This landmark exhibition was Mortimer’s first major solo showing in a public institution. It cemented his place in New Zealand’s art scene. His unique perspective on Dilemma Hill created a legacy. A legacy that continues to resonate today.
So stand here with me on Dilemma Hill. Feel the wind. Consider the view. Let the story of the hill and its artistic interpretation sink in. Let it remind you of our capacity for both darkness and light. Let it remind you that within every dilemma lies a possibility for resolution.