On This Island, Meeting and Parting

In April 2009, ARTIST PROFILE in conjunction with Winsor & Newton, assembled some of the most respected painters working in Australia today over three generations – each with their own perspective on how to absorb, sketch and paint the experience – and led them on a tour of New Zealand’s North Island.

Some have devoted their careers to divining nature through an artist’s vision; some rarely, if ever, paint outside their own studios; some reject the rarified notion of ‘landscape’ painting; but each has a unique take on the promise of this stunning environment to yield material aesthetic and philosophical challenges.

One mountain – eleven answers.

On this island, meeting & parting, the resulting exhibition of this tour, is a survey of the bodies of work from each of the participating artists. An exploration of process, the exhibition features work painted en plein air as well as that produced in studio. Themes of interpretation and personal perspective thread the distinctive styles and narratives of each artist’s works together, The same landscape is approached, decoded and depicted in their unique modes – from the abstract expressions of Ann Thomson to Euan MacLeod’s placement of the figure.

Featuring artists of ages spanning three generations, the exhibition cements the importance and ongoing significance of landscape painting as an integral part of the contemporary art scene. Artists view the world differently, On this island, meeting & parting invites you to see their view and watch their evolution from the plein air studies to the final masterpieces.

The participating artists include Lucy Culliton, David Keeling, Euan MacLeod, Jan Senbergs, Anne Thomson, Judith Van Heeren, Julie Harris, Steve Lopes, Idris Murphy, Peter Simpson and Shonah Trescott.

A curators talk will be held at the gallery on Sunday 28 March 2010 at 2pm. Curator Owen Craven will provide some insight to the exhibition along with exhibiting artists Jan Senbergs, Steve Lopes and Julie Harris.

A special dinner event will also be held at the gallery on Saturday 8 May with exhibiting artists, Euan MacLeod, Lucy Culliton and Peter Simpson, who will lead an exclusive guided tour and discussion on the exhibition.