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Nicole Kelly is one of Australia’s most interesting emerging artists. Her landscapes and portraits are filled with reminiscence and emotion. She’s had 10 solo shows, has won the coveted Brett Whiteley travelling art scholarship, Hurford Hardwood portrait prize, as well as other prizes, and has been finalist in many others. I spoke with her in her studio in Sydney where she was creating work for her November show with Arthouse Gallery in Sydney. We also filmed some video on that day which will be uploaded to the website soon. Nicole grew up in the Sutherland Shire in southern Sydney and now lives in Thirroul, south of Sydney. She didn’t paint or draw much as a child and in fact was more interested in photography in high school and particularly the work of Bill Henson. After school, encouraged by photographer and academic Ella Dreyfus, she decided to apply for the National Art School. Press play beneath the feature photo above to hear us talk about her time at National Art School, in Paris and a lot more about her paintings and process. Upcoming exhibitions Solo show, Arthouse Gallery, Sydney, 7-23 November 2019Group show, Portia Geach Memorial Award, SH Ervin Gallery Sydney, current until 15 September 2019Group show, 'Southern Swell' Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, Sydney, 23 November 2019 to 2 February 2020Group show, 'Love', Tweed Regional Gallery, Murwillimbah, 6 September to 17 November 2019 Show Notes Nicole KellyNicole Kelly on InstagramNicole Kelly at Arthouse GalleryNicole Kelly at This Is No Fantasy Bill HensonElla DreyfusWillem De KooningChaim SoutineAlberto GiacomettiFrank AuerbachRembrandtEl GrecoTom Carment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6yRDLvAeGA 'An Amorous field' 2018, oil on polyester, 183 x 236cm 'Jumaadi + Clouds + Rain' , 2017, 150 x 130cm, oil on polyesterWinner of Hurford Hardwood Portrait Prize 2018 'Studio nude (self portrait)', 2019, oil on polyesterFinalist 2019 Portia Geach Memorial Award 'Lauren's song', 2018, oil on polyester, 107 x 112cmFInalist, Black Swan Portrait Prize 2018 'The last of the day runs pink' 2019, oil on polyester, 122 x 122cmSalon des Refuses, SH Ervin Gallery, 2019 'Bedroom Window (Lauren and Poppy), oil on polyester, 122 x 123cmFinalist, Vincent Prize 2019
Reg Mombassa, also known as Chris O’Doherty, has been exhibiting his paintings and drawings at Sydney’s Watters Gallery, nationally and internationally for over 40 years. In 2007 there was a major survey of his work at the SH Ervin Gallery in Sydney. He is also one of the leaders of a group of artists which created designs for the Mambo surf clothing label in the 80s and 90s. A recent documentary aired on the ABC in Australia looked at those artists and their influential and anti authoritatrian approach. But of course Mombassa is renowned not only as an artist but also a musician. In 1976 he founded the iconic Australian band Mental as Anything with fellow art student Martin Plaza and in 1990 he formed his band Dog Trumpet with his brother Peter O’Doherty. The music in the introduction to this episode is from the song ‘Made in the World’ from their album Medicated Spirits. Mombassa has also had a creative input into major public events such as the Sydney Olympics closing ceremony and Sydney New Year's Eve celebrations and has won awards for his poster and album cover works. His paintings are held in major Australian art institutions including the National Portrait Gallery and the Art Gallery of NSW. Upcoming shows and events Upcoming Dog Trumpet gigs can be found here Port Fairy Folk Festival 10-13 March 2017, Port Fairy, Victoria Blue Mountains Music Festival , 17-19 March 2017, Blue Mountains NSW Solo show at Watters gallery, 14 June - 1 July 2017, East Sydney, NSW Links to people and things we talk about in the show Reg Mombassa (Chris O'Doherty) 'Made in the World' - YouTube Watters Gallery Claudia O'Doherty National Art School Neil Evans Martin Plaza Mental as Anything Peter O'Doherty Dog Trumpet Mambo: Art Irritates Life Mambo Graphics National Portrait Gallery Art Gallery of NSW Patrick White The Landscapes of Reg Mombassa - Antipodean Scenery: Views from the eyes of a car Reg Mombassa's miniature paintings on the Talking with Painters YouTube Channel (below) Reg Mombassa's sketchbooks on the Talking with Painters YouTube Channel (below) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkkvZnDPU-A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNikvjSVnek
On the show this week we hear about a major national touring art exhibition titled 'Black Mist Burnt Country' which commemorates the 60th anniversary of the British atomic test series at Maralinga in South Australia. It revisits the events and its location through the artworks by Indigenous and non-Indigenous contemporary artists across the mediums of painting, print-making, sculpture, installation, photography and new media. The works in the exhibition collectively span a period of seven decades, from the first use of the atomic bomb on civilians in Hiroshima and into the post-WW II era, through the times of anti-nuclear protest in the 1980s to the present day. The exhibition is planned to commence in September 2016 at the SH Ervin Gallery in Sydney, and tour nationally to public galleries and museums across five states in 2017 and 2018.We speak with curator of this exhibition, JD Mittmann, from Burrinja Gallery in Upwey, who takes us through the ideas around the exhibition and some of the works included. We also talk with Paul Ogier, an New Zealand & Australian photographer who has photographed Maraling and Emufield, as well as Warren Tantja Paul, an Anangu artist from Yalata community in far west south Australia. Warren is a line-drawing artist and sculptor who has most recently began a new series of drawings and sculptures in reference to the Maralinga atomic tests, as a result of a mentorship with Ceduna Art Centre’s Pam Diment.
Talking with Richard Woldendorp, a highly respected photographer acknowledged as Australia’s eminent practitioner of aerial photography. For almost 50 years, Woldendorp has documented the country's unique landscape from the sky. His images of the environment, taken from the air, have established a fresh visual vocabulary for the Australian landscape. Now at age 81, Richard Woldendorp has a major exhibition of his work in Sydney, presented by the National Trust S.H. Ervin Gallery 20 June - 03 August 2008. Richard WoldendorpThe exhibition acknowledges Woldendorp’s important contribution to Australian landscape photography and has been selected by art critic John McDonald and photographer R. Ian Lloyd. Abstract Earth: A view from above - a new publication of Woldendorp’s work, will accompany this exhibition. Richard Woldendorp captures the vastness of the Australian outback, our distinctive coastlines and our man made landscapes in a way that combines both realism and precision with the power of large-scale abstract paintings. Named Australian Photographer of the Year for his landscape photography, Richard has exhibited in Australia and overseas and is represented in the public collections of the Australian National Gallery, Art Gallery of NSW and Art Gallery of WA. First hit the play button to hear the interview, then click this link to the SH Ervin Gallery to view work & info: http://www.nsw.nationaltrust.org.au/properties/gallery/exhibitions/richard/default.asp
Talking with Australian painter John R Walker. John's ten year survey, Journey Through Landscape, is showing at Sydney's SH Ervin Gallery until June 15. John's evocative descriptions of his creative process, makes for one of the most fascinating interviews I've ever recorded on the subject of painting. From the catalogue: "John R Walker has immersed himself in the Australian landscape since childhood and is now considered one of the leading practitioners in the genre. Although Walker is a five time Archibald finalist for portraiture, landscape remains his first love. Since moving from inner west Sydney to the NSW town of Braidwood in 2002, Walker has become deeply engaged with the diverse landscape surrounding the historic town. John's passion for bushwalking and intense study of the environment allows him to collect a uniquely personal experience on his daily walks and painting trips in the region. John has also been inspired by Bedervale (1836) an historic grazing property in the Braidwood district, and one of his favourite painting sites where he has completed many works that evoke the atmospheric nature of the land." First hit the play button to hear the interview, then click this SH Ervin Gallery link for more info: http://www.nsw.nationaltrust.org.au/properties/gallery/default.asp