Three clusters, FireWorks Gallery’s sixth Matches exhibition for the year, showcases 47 works by 17 artists (both remote and local Indigenous, as well as non-Indigenous) in groups of varying subjects. A combination of paintings, sculptures and works on paper will form part of this first group show for 2019.
On entering the gallery through the roller door the massive concrete display wall features the five portraits, belonging to Cluster 1: portraits&signatures, with the large and visually powerful portraits by David Paulson of artists Richard Bell and Ken Thaiday contrasting with the black and white Tom Cruise silhouettes in Scott Redford’s Mission Impossible Series. Also displayed is a 1987 work Face Dreaming by the late Trevor Nickolls. A whimsical delight appears in the smaller gallery on the ground floor with signature pieces. Alongside one of Michael Nelson Jagamara’s trademark expressive paintings (FW10397), Anthony Lister’s recently created pink neon signature (FW18980) is displayed. Lister has been creating some smaller neon works in his Sydney studio, which will be arriving in time for this exhibition to adorn gallery stockroom walls.
Cluster 2: fish&footy, also downstairs, is playfully displayed in Brisbane artist Alick Sweet’s installation, Footy Finals with Conway Ginger’s Famous footy player displayed nearby. This “live ladder” of Sweet’s brightly painted, fish shaped wall sculptures represent all 18 ALF teams (FW18440 & FW18443). Sydney based Juno Gemes photographic works document and explore Indigenous lifestyle such as in Where the Sacred Fish Come in, Mornington Island (FW16509) whilst TSI master printmaker Glen Mackie, combines dynamic, bold, black and white design style of threadlike lines which tell oceanic stories also entwined with themes of identity (FW15366).
Upstairs, the mezzanine level continues with Cluster 3: hills&mountains which presents a range of styles and mediums. Secondary market works from Western Australia such as Jack Britten’s painting Bungle Bungles (FW18685) contrasts with Paulson’s contemporary imagery of Mt Tibrogargan (FW16722) a much-admired landmark, which the artist has frequently driven past for several years. This powerful work is also featured in Paulson’s forthcoming 56page survey catalogue Both sides of the creek, which will be launched at the gallery later in September. Also displayed in hills&mountains are two small works on paper by Ginger, dot painting style works by desert painters George Ward Tjungerrayi, Violet Petyarre and Kathleen Petyarre alongside selected works by Matthew Johnson, Ian Waldron, Vincent Serico and Shirley Purdie.
Gallery Director, Michael Eather states, “There is a phenomenal wealth of subject matter available and of interest to an artist be it a person, an object, a theme or an idea. By selecting and arranging artworks for these three clusters in Matches 6, the visitor can be navigated with ease through the exhibition which will no doubt provide some wonderful and unforeseen surprises.” Three clusters marks one year for FireWorks here at 9/31 Thompson Street, Bowen Hills where the gallery backs on to the banks of Breakfast Creek.”
Image: Juno Gemes Where the Sacred Fish Come in, Mornington Island 1978 vintage prints on archival paper 60x67cm
