The Noise of Time brings together more than 30 years of Ian Friend’s artistic practice, featuring works from 1993 through to works made at his Ipswich studio in 2026. The exhibition presents more than 30 years of works on paper, exploring the passage of time and the relationship between memory, absence, change and experience.
Friend draws inspiration from literature, poetry, philosophy, music and the natural world. His process involves repeatedly building up and removing layers of ink, gouache, watercolour and crayon on paper over periods that can span months or years. The paper is an intrinsic part of each work rather than simply a surface for the artwork.
The exhibition includes works from the artist’s collection as well as private and public collections including QAGOMA, Redcliffe Art Gallery, Redland Art Gallery, UniSC Art Collection, Art Gallery of South Australia, QUT Art Museum and Ipswich Art Gallery.
Image Details: Ian Friend, Wound Response #1, 2024–2025. Gouache and ink on Khadi paper. Collection of the artist + Jan Manton Gallery. Photography: Carl Warner.
