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FRONT GALLERY IN PRAISE OF FOLLY My paintings and pottery just bubble up. They are not thought through. They begin as dreams and then either develop or fail. They come from the most basic (and probably better) parts of me that are about friendship and beauty, animals, fun and humour. Some may interpret them as being about decadence or mischief, but I would prefer to say that they are about folly and beauty, which I think are very deeply and intrinsically linked. After many years working closely with animals, with First Nations Peoples, and with some incredibly attuned people working closely with animals, I believe that animals experience the world very closely to the way we do. I believe that they have much deeper aesthetic responses, and stronger intuitive senses than most of us, largely unburdened by the tragic fallacies of both logic and religion. In terms of purpose, the artworks will hopefully make a tiny contribution to the beauty and enjoyment and mystery of the world. The artworks are a tiny counter to the overwhelming world of competition, argument, logic, achievement, and greed that inevitably destroy humanity, nature and our souls.
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BACK GALLERY PASTORALE I only paint scenes that resonate with me on a deeper level. Whether it is the play of light, the juxtaposition of near and far, or something less tangible, there must be an emotional connection before I begin. These works are, in some respects, a celebration of what we have in our vicinity that can provide an antidote for the deeply troubled times that we are living through. They may be peaceful but are not meant to be inert. These scenes can be found in Melbourne’s Botanical Gardens, Mount Macedon and Tarago Reservoir in West Gippsland.
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SIDE GALLERY GHOST ELECTRICITY This series captures ethereal impressions of the human form as a reflection on the transient nature of being. Model Albert Chong is featured throughout, his dynamic poses bringing a charged energy to the work. Shot on 35mm film using long exposure times, the ghost-like quality of the images was achieved entirely in camera, with no digital manipulation. Photographed outdoors, the work draws on the environment to evoke a wildness of texture and feeling. The photographs are complemented by an ambient scent design by Erin Adams from Smell Art, created from a blend of Australian rosewood, northern sandalwood, lemon-scented gum, cade oil, geosmin and fragonia.
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UPSTAIRS GALLERY DREAMER darby is a multidisciplinary artist and musician based in Melbourne, originally from the Mid North Coast of NSW. With a focus on movement, energy, and impulse, her work is often formed through quick sketch drawing and intuitive mark-making. Her use of exaggeration and play in interpreting her subjects has developed into a recognizable style, signaling a close connection to her inner child and a refreshing freedom in her work. Working between abstraction and figuration, darby is interested in capturing a feeling of presence and drawing the viewer into the work itself. Guided by mood, bold colour and expressive brushwork, she transforms familiar scenes into dreamlike moments suspended between memory, reality, and imagination.
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