The VU studios are a hive of activity, with all of us trying to get our work finished, our studio spaces painted, and our work hung and installed by next Wednesday… eek.
Meanwhile, here’s a glimpse of my new collage/installation work…
Today I went to Jo Davenport’s exhibition opening at Flinders Lane Gallery. Her paintings are large, abstract, loose and spontaneous. She uses strong colours, runny paint which bleeds into the canvas and drips, thick paint applied with a palette knife, brushstrokes and scrape marks that combine in a frenzy of colour. This series is based on landscapes inspired by a recent boat trip from Echuca to Adelaide on the Murray River. I loved the looseness, the variation of marks and the colours!
I’m continuing to use organic shapes made up of cells, but adding layers… I’m now painting a larger one on canvas, this was a test on cheap board. The pale layer tones down the fluoros which were very extreme!
I’ve finished my new geometric painting… I’m quite pleased with it.
Yayoi Kusama has designed Louis Vuitton’s new window displays! Thanks to my painting teacher Marina for tipping me off. I’d actually seen a photo of LV Kusama windows in Bangkok, but didn’t realise they were also in Collins Street, Melbourne.
My new painting in progress… about half finished. It’s based on a photo of coral underwater (very loosely) and using acrylic and oil paint.
I haven’t finished the random geometric one yet… I’m still thinking about what to do next.
Gemma Smith is one of my favourite artists. Her paintings are made up of geometric colourful ‘shards’, giving a sense of perspective and depth. She also makes multi-sided perspex sculptures she calls ‘boulders’. Her new works (Tangle paintings) are much more painterly and use organic shapes. I love her use of colour and the way she uses both geometric and organic shapes.
Work from 2011 here.
In March I went to Brisbane Gallery Of Modern Art to see Yayoi Kusama’s exhibition, Look now, see forever.
In the show were large acrylic sculptures, installation rooms with inflatables, sculptures and mirrors, and large paintings, including an ‘Infinity Net’ series which inspired my Psychedelic Pink Coral painting. The Obliteration Room, an interactive work — a white room containing white furniture — was gradually covered with round colourful stickers by the audience. I love Yayoi Kusama’s work, it is so vibrant, quirky and colourful, and her installations are amazing. I first saw her work a few years back, her infinity room Soul under the moon, which is also at Brisbane GOMA. It’s incredible. You enter a small dark room and feel like you’re in a galaxy stretching to infinity. I’m so pleased I was able to see more of her work this year.
My latest painting uses geometric shapes again. I based the composition on a random arrangement of cut-out shapes then added new layers with transparent paint. Next I think I’ll add some drippy sections as a contrast.
kerynrobinson 