It's a wonderful thing; having my own exhibition space attached to my studio!
It allows M and I to curate our own shows from stock while I continue to develop new ideas and themes in the studio. We generally mount 3 or 4 shows per year - each one with a different theme.
We've recently mounted a new show called "Writings on the Wall" in the studio/gallery .
The work in this show mostly explores my love/hate relationship with words and writing on the subject of art. I particularly hate the way spin and artspeak are used in wanky explanations of things that either don't deserve or shouldn't need explaining.
And because the creative process itself is always at least as important as any message, artistic licence allows me to push words and writing into simple calligraphic gestures and scribble - which, as far as I'm concerned, can be interpreted as "Blah, blah blah" - much the sound of this explanation.
Nevertheless, besides making some surprisingly attractive works (better in the flesh than in these images) I think the value of pursuing these ideas has been in their contribution to loosening my attitude and approach to art in general.
I'm now wondering whether all this isn't some sort of inversion of what originally inspired human development of language and writing?
"Nice Painting"
Acrylic paint on hardboard - approx 30cm x 45cm plus frame.
"New Lingo X"
Acrylic paint on gesso paper - approx 15cm x 90cm plus frame width.
"Streaky Forest"
Acrylic paint on particle board - approx 30cm x 40cm plus frame width
"Wild Assertions I"
Mixed media drawing on paper 50cm x 75cm plus frame width
"Lattice"
Acrylic on particle board - approx 15cm x 20cm plus frame width.
Mounted and matted under glass - framed in timber - finished size approx 25cm x 40cm
"Encryption II"
Acrylic wash on gesso paper - approx 50cm x 60cm plus frame size.
"Forest Song"
Acrylic paint on particle board - approx 60cm x 90cm
"Saying Something"
Acrylic paint on particle board - approx 60cm x 90cm plus frame.
Mixed media drawing on aquarelle paper - 100cm x 70cm
"Meditations on the Word II"
Acrylic paint on canvas - 183cm x 122cm
"All that you Are"
Mixed media drawing on aquarelle paper 50cm x 70cm + frame size
"Scribbley Forest"
Mixed media drawing on aquarelle paper - 70cm x 100cm.
Acrylic paint on canvas - 50cm x 70cm
Float framed in white painted timber. Total framed size approx 70cm x 90cm
Mixed media on paper - A4 size unframed
Acrylic paint on hardboard - approx 75cm x 30cm
Acrylic paint on gesso paper - approx 30cm x 40cm
Mixed media on aquarelle paper - 50cm x 75cm - mounted with cream mat under acrylic sheet and framed in honey blond timber.
Total framed size, approx 72cm x 100cm.
"Labyrinths" (Where verbiage meets landscape painting)
Acrylic paint on gesso paper on MDF - 75cm x 108cm plus 9cm white timber frame.
Acrylic paint on gesso paper on MDF - approx 108cm x 75cm + 9cm white timber frame.
"The Critic Writes" (The Beauty of Artspeak)
Acrylic paint on gesso paper on MDF - approx 54cm wide x 75cm high + 6.5cm timber frame.
Acrylic paint on plywood - approx 60cm x 60cm - mounted with cream mat surround under acrylic sheet framed in mottled and burnished silver/gold foiled timber.
Acrylic paint on gesso paper on particle board - 75cm wide x 108cm high - framed in white timber.
Total framed size approx 90cm wide x 123cm high.
Mixed media on aquarelle paper, 70cm x 100cm
Acrylic paint and natural earth/ochre on aquarelle paper - 70cm x 100cm - mounted with cream mat under acrylic sheet and framed in 3cm wide timber, finished with burnished and mottled silver/gold foil. Total size (framed) is approx 100cm wide x 140cm high.
You can see "Writings on the Wall" (currently including most of the above works) now or at any time over the next month or two or three. Just visit Adrian Gilbert Art Studio/Gallery on the corner of Easter and Holmes streets in Leura, Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia.
We only open regularly on weekends and public holidays - 10.30 am to 4.30 pm or by appointment - or by chance if you find us at home.
A good idea before you come is to check out the Portfolio pages on this website - and if you find something different you would like to see in the flesh, ring us on 47841600 in advance of your visit. If it's available, we will have it ready for you.
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