At the core of cultural contemplation lies a profound question: what becomes of art after the artist’s death? Victory over Death: The Art of Colin McCahon explores this theme through the lens of the renowned New Zealand painter, often considered one of the most significant Australasian artists of the twentieth century.

Imagine being a visionary in 1950s New Zealand, aware that your audience has yet to emerge and that your legacy may remain unknown. McCahon created with the belief that future audiences would grant him immortality. Like Christ, whose teachings live on through his Apostles, McCahon becomes a conduit for profound truths, revealing that the essence of art lies in the act of creation itself.

His monumental work, Victory over Death 2 (1970), featuring the words "I AM," now resides in the National Gallery of Australia alongside Jackson Pollock’s Blue Poles (1952). This painting addresses the resurrection of Christ, yet each viewer who stands before it grants McCahon his own triumph over death.

Victory over Death: The Art of Colin McCahon delves into this small miracle of art, exploring the unique life—or afterlife—it offers to both the artist and the audience.