From the late 1950s to the early 1970s, artists adopted a change in approach to painting which was linked to an exploration of synthetic paints and their unexpected manipulation in the hands of artists.

The research that formed the basis of the concept for this exhibition began 14 years ago.  Tom Learner, then conservation scientist at London's Tate Gallery, conducted analysis of samples from paintings by New Zealand artist Colin McCahon, for Sarah Hillary, Head of Conservation at the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki.  Since then, the project has grown to include research on several other New Zealand artists active between the late 1950s and early 1970s.

Resene itself started selling paint in 1946 when Ted Nightingale started making cement-based paint in his garage.  In those days the colour palette available could be easily counted on both hands.  A few short years later, Resene launched the first waterborne paints in Australasia while also selling a solvent-borne paint range. Today the colour range available extends to many thousands.

The Modern Paints Aotearoa exhibition is proudly supported by Resene and runs at the Auckland Art Gallery until March 2015.