PROVENANCE
Private Collection, Auckland since 1986

Garth Tapper was a master of social portraiture. His body of work is similar to a collection of short stories - slice of life scenes depicting New Zealanders from all walks of life including the working class, publicans, judges and sports players. He did not necessarily seek out moments of high drama or tension, but looked to capture honest, real, every day scenes. Tapper's work has a candour that is accessible but not overstated, which is how Court of Appeal speaks to the viewer. The painting has a sense of calm reverence: five judges in their robes occupy three different planes in a muted courtroom. Their wood panelled surroundings make for a solemn architectural setting, and as viewers our attention is divided between the rhythm of such a solid, elemental composition - their five red robes like topographical formations in a landscape - and the relationship between the judges. They each assume a different pose and look in different directions, which is Tapper's clever way of bringing them into conversation with each other. The combination of physical proximity and disconnectedness from each other prompts us as viewers to imagine them to life, to wonder about their temperament and personalities. Tapper introduces a quiet sense of companionableness to the scene with the inclusion of his still life vignette of Johhny Walker Red Label whiskey, water jug and tumblers.