In stark contrast to the dreary winter sky, a dynamic group of abstract paintings from Bendigo Art Gallery’s permanent collection is currently on display in Gallery One.
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The works range from examples of pure abstraction, focused on the simple act of painting or a celebration of line, shape and colour to abstract representations of personal experiences and creative interpretations of the natural and built environment.
The restricted colour pallet of George Johnson’s Black Triangle Construction No. 1 1988 allows for a concentration on the compositional possibilities of shape and line.
Painted directly onto recycled tarpaulin Peter Atkins’, Points of view (an anthology of short stories) 2007 taps into the narratives implicit in found material and the incidental abstract moments found in the everyday.
In Nyikyilki, 2011, Sally Gabori conveys the essence of her ancestral home through a distinctly abstract language rooted deeply in a spiritual connection to the land.
Works by pioneering Australian abstractionists such as Alun Leach-Jones, Robert Jacks and David Aspden are also included in the new collection hang.
In the 1960s, through the early work of these and other artists, hard edge abstraction and colour field painting gained populist traction in Australia.
Embracing the spirit of experimentation and conceptual innovation, inspired by trends in Europe and America, these young artists explored abstract modes of expression in their work, challenging the longstanding tradition of the image in art.
As a counterpoint to the figurative bias of the National Gallery of Victoria’s permanent collection, in 1968, the gallery presented the radical exhibition The Field.
The exhibition was the first comprehensive display of colour field painting and abstract sculpture in Australia and continues to have ripple effects through the art world and the work of contemporary artists working with abstraction today.
Interestingly, on the occasion of its 50th anniversary, the National Gallery of Victoria is seeking public assistance to re-create this seminal exhibition in May 2018.
If you visit on Sunday, you can also enjoy the Gallery’s jam-packed family fun day inspired by the current exhibition Champagne taste and lemonade pockets by Rona Green.
Design quirky badges, illustrate your own animal portraits, tattoo your parent (only temporary folks) and more. Cost is $5 per family.
Bookings essential call 5434 6088. This exhibition is only on for two more weeks.