Converging Transparencies by Miertje Skidmore
Presented by Art Image Gallery
Reviewed 13 April 2015
The Art Images Gallery in Norwood is currently playing host to some spectacularly colourful and deeply engrossing artworks by talented Australian artists.
Each of the artists featured in this exhibition bring incredibly unique styles and philosophies to the table. Despite the obvious differences between, say, blind drawing on canvas and experimental sculpture, all of the works are brought together by the artists’ use of bold colours, inventive techniques and aesthetic of “refined chaos”.
The works of Miertje Skidmore are those that are most likely to grab your immediate attention, being displayed at the entrance of the gallery and commanding, as their size demands, a massive portion of the gallery’s walls. Skidmore’s abstract landscapes, created by applying multiple thin layers of opaque paint over a canvas, are incredibly powerful but also hypnotic and calming. The countless layers, swirling patterns and perfectly balanced colours draw you in and keep your attention for ages.
It might be dangerous to have one of Skidmore’s “biomorphic abstracts” hanging in your living room because you’d never want to leave! It’s all too easy to be lost in these beautiful landscapes, though the journey is definitely not unpleasant.
Gus Clutterbuck’s warped porcelain sculptures are similarly fascinating. They all bear the marks of troubled genius and a deep connection to “home”. His work also intertwines ancient Chinese myth with modern South Australian tropes such as Cockatoos and Semaphore fish ’n’ chip shops, creating a unique storyline. His porcelain, floral footballs are my favourite of his pieces, perhaps questioning how our view of masculinity clashes with artistic elegance.
Josh Robbins and Mia Oatley both explore the subject of birds through paint, albeit in highly individual ways. Robbins practices a form of “blind drawing” to create amorphous shapes before filling in the rest of the bird, creating mangled and wild creatures that defy the laws of traditional form. He expresses freedom and imagination through his shapeless birds, all the while presenting, quite simply, a gorgeous image to ponder over.
Oatley’s budgies are a lot flatter than Robbins’ birds, but are just as pretty. Her use of pastel and fluorescent colours transport the viewer to a simpler, more innocent place. They are playful, jovial paintings that celebrate and revel in femininity.
Nigel Sense’s neo-pop style shows great reverence for the Andy Warhol’s of the past. His mixed-media dripping flower-pots are just as vibrant as the other works displayed but show a lot more cynical humour. Featuring titles like “Bought you a Toyota but wanted a BMW”, these works dredge charm from commercialism.
Also on display are glass artist Tim Shaw’s sculptural works. Made from blown and carved glass of various colours and textures, these pieces sit well alongside Skidmore’s paintings. These relatively small works are full of energy and grace, highlighting Shaw’s skill in producing delicate yet effective forms that would liven up any room.
Reviewed by James Rudd
Twitter: @james_wrr
Venue: Art Images Gallery, 32 The Parade, Norwood
Season: 20 March – 26 April
Tickets: Free Entry
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