Peter Kennedy: Light Years 1970–1
In the early 1970s, Brisbane-born artist Peter Kennedy was a leading figure in the development of conceptual art in Australia. Light Years restages work from three solo shows he mounted in 1970 and 1971, which contained pioneering examples of installation, light, performance, and sound work.
Neon-Light Installations, at Gallery A Sydney in February 1970, is considered the first exhibition of Australian neon work. Kennedy made the works while employed as a sign designer at Claude Neon, Sydney. Many of the pieces featured straight lengths of coloured neon housed in reflective channels that concentrated the coloured light; the channels were treated as a compositional building blocks. Installed on the floor, the walls, and along the ceiling line, Kennedy’s neon pieces responded to the gallery architecture. In one work, neon light was modulated by bent expanded mesh; in another, by wood wool.
Peter Kennedy is represented by Milani Gallery, Brisbane.
