To look back over Tony Ogle’s prolific catalogue of works, you quickly notice a common feature; in addition to his close connection to the sea – the humble New Zealand bach frequently features.
Built by his father and grandfather in the seaside township of Orewa, Ogle’s family bach was a true labour of love, and it’s where his resonance with baches was formed. Ogle is continuously drawn to the individual character and aesthetic values of the classic bach, and perhaps even more so to what it represents – humble simplicity and a rough and ready DIY aesthetic. ‘Back in the day’ families planned and built their own baches together, and as a result they all have their own unique character and rich stories woven from the ground up in these special places. Of course, baches go hand-in-hand with Ogle’s overarching muse – the coastline.
Ogle will depict baches situated on the pristine coastlines that he’s spent time with, yet if you went seeking a number of these baches, you may discover they were placed in the scene only by the artist’s embellishment and do not exist in reality. Ogle has said in several works he has placed imaginary baches in locations that he has felt would be a perfect, dream-like location for one – an artist’s vision of a bach utopia.
Ogle also notes in recent years that the numbers of humble kiwi baches are dwindling, with people choosing a more modern aesthetics for their beach homes. His art is a way to capture these special places, before its too late to do so.