In Holiday in Suburbia, Brisbane artist Stephen Nothling explores the curious presence of covered vehicles, caravans and other objects encountered in suburban streets. These unexpected subjects become the focus of paintings that consider curiosity, memory and the relationship between everyday objects and their surroundings.
Nothling describes a personal love-hate relationship with caravans, recalling childhood holidays spent in cramped and sometimes tense conditions. Removed from their usual context and purpose, caravans and other vehicles become intriguing subjects. By isolating them within suburban settings, the paintings develop into quiet landscapes.
The series also includes paintings of novelty socks, inspired by the artist’s collection of gifted socks and a desire to create images that could be completed in a single day. The works revisit an earlier interest in everyday objects, following his 1991 Churchie Emerging Artist Prize-winning series of shoe paintings.
Flowers, including roses and hearts, provide another subject in the exhibition. For Nothling, painting roses is like solving a puzzle, with their capacity to evoke emotion and carry multiple meanings.
Stephen Nothling, 2026
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