My first solo art exhibition is off and running at fortyfivedownstairs in Melbounre's Flinders Lane. It's a brilliant space as galleries go. Really generous and just right for my 21 artworks.
The exhibition runs from July 2-27 and was officially opened last night by arts broadcaster and notable Mary-Lou Jelbart. I received tremendous feedback from numerous artists who attended.
My work is derived mainly from digital photography and manipulated to create a very painterly effect. While the technique is important it is really the ideas behind the images that is most critical.
The show covers two main themes: over-tourism and the fleeting transitory nature of our lives. The images freeze-frame moments of loss, desire and ambition to create the haunting and melancholy.
An artist friend Cate Longden emailed this morning with her observation of the show. It's distilled and, I like to think, to the point. Thankyou Cate ! :
"I loved the tension particularly in some works - the sense of imminence. There's a suggested sense of flux within images which are really quite still, 'frozen' moments. They are theatrical and otherworldly but also very much of our world even though a hemisphere & age away with historic architecture. Loved the depth of colour & the painterly-ness. They're uneasy but beautiful.'
It is, I hope, a richly textured presentation accompanied by prose and poetry I have written specifically for the art.
Hopefully visitors to the show will be able to overlay their own experiences and feel the same intense sense of 'moment' I have had in creating the work.
Hope to see you there!!