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NZ Army Artist - Matt Gauldie
Captain Matt Gauldie holds the unique and challenging position within the Army as the official New Zealand Army artist.
In 2005 Rt. Hon Helen Clark appointed Matt into this role and six months later he was issued the honorary rank of Captain.
As Army Artist Matt observes and conveys contemporary army life and the varied roles of the modern day soldier. To date Matt has produced ‘The Operational series of Afghan and Solomon Island Deployments”, ’Recruit’, ‘Day in the life of a soldier’ and ‘Unknown Warrior’ series and is currently working on a new series which will be exhibited on ANZAC day at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. The Army Art Exhibition opens on 23rd April 2008 and is open through to 20 July 2008.
As Army artist Matt’s roles include painting portraits and army scenarios, being a spokesperson for the Army and fulfilling his commitments as a Territorial Force Army Officer
Being both Soldier and Artist Matt has travelled overseas with deployments to Solomon Islands and Afghanistan in 2006. He successfully captured his own personal experiences as well as the civilians and soldiers he worked with.
Matt’s work highlights the many facets of Army life- which can range from deployment overseas to an official ceremonial role. What becomes apparent through Matt’s art is the Army as a diverse and dynamic organisation with a distinct culture.
The New Zealand Army has a proud history of Army artists which began in World War One.
Lance Corporal Nugent Herman received the first official appointment in April, 1918.
Since then there has been eight individuals employed as Army Artist including well known figures like Peter McIntyre, Russell Clark, Ion Brown and Graham Braddock. Over the decades the collection of Army art has successfully captured the proud history of the New Zealand Army and Matt continues this legacy.
“I feel a tremendous amount of pride to be the Army artist and I want to do the best that I can do for everyone in the Army.”
Born in 1976 in Lower Hutt, Matt has painted his whole life. He says that being an artist is more a personality trait. For him art is something he is rather than he does.
His childhood was spent growing up in a creative environment as both parents working as artists. His mother Gail, a full time artist working in Wellington and his father Bob, a Scientist.
Upon completing his schooling in Hawaii he returned to New Zealand in 1995 where after time at Elam School of Art and Design, in Auckland, he began working as a full time artist.
Initially Matt specialised in portraiture before branching into street scenes, nudes and contemporary landscape. With a distinctive “New Zealandness” about his style of painting, he exhibited though out New Zealand until the commissioning of the ‘Return to Unknown Warrior’ series in late 2004. This was his introduction to the New Zealand Army.” As I walked across the Somme battlefield in France, I was struggling to think of a way to capture the sadness of the place in a painting, I spoke quit candidly about my quandary with a tall, serious looking man walking nearby. Later I was to find out that man was the Chief of the entire Defence Force, Air Marshall Bruce Fergusson”. Following his successful exhibition he was officially employed as the New Zealand army artist.
Matt continues to concentrate the majority of his artistic efforts on Army art however he continues to exhibit his ‘Civie’ artwork at Galleries through out New Zealand.
As Army Artist, Matt is constantly learning about the Army and the people that make up the ‘Green Machine’ as he affectionately refers to the intriguing and complicated culture that is The New Zealand Army
In September 2005, Matt attended the 12 week Army Basic Training at the Waiouru Military Camp. [All Arms Recruit Course 335] ., ‘Recruit Gauldie’ experienced first hand the harsh army discipline, Parade Drill, and the freezing weather Waiouru is so famous for. The ‘Right of Passage’ that Basic training represents is the starting place for every person in the New Zealand Army, and an important foundation in which to build a military career.
Without question it is an arduous initiation to the Army. Matt’s experiences from the course provided inspiration for his ‘Recruit’ series.
“There are a whole lot of different perspectives and jobs in the Army and that is why it’s really important to get involved and talk to these soldiers and understand where they are coming from.”
Matt is the first to admit that his ‘Ears open, Mouth Shut’ Basic training philosophy still applies, when it comes to learning and growing within the Army structure.
Now in 2008, Matt has had numerous deployments and trips overseas to paint in War zones, Parade grounds and Historical battlefields, He has painted over 50 paintings for the Army and proudly upholds the tradition of Art in the New Zealand Army.
This page was last reviewed on 02 December 2008 and is current.