2021. Watt Space Gallery. Newcastle.
Ordinary Intricacies.
Ordinary Intricacies explores the interplay between elemental materials that are worked up to images, objects or vessels that are made intricate through the patterns and dynamics found in natural relationships. The seemingly ordinary becomes exquisite when these elements are employed and manipulated through artistic practice. Often drawn from the everyday and the domestic, functional objects and natural materials combine in the creation of functional objects, elaborate designs and deconstructed forms.
Ari Chand, Brett Piva, Chris Capper, John Heaney, Lezlie Tilley, Maddyson Hatton, Mojgan Habibi and Sue Jones exhibit in tandem to examine further these material relationships and how they play out between practitioners who have similar material concerns.
A Brush along The Bidgee
Beginning where it arises within the Fiery Range of the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales. Through strong boulder driven currents bending north within the Australian Capital Territory. Along calmer waters to where it meets the Murray far west on the borders of Victoria. June 2021, Brett Piva began a one-month personal artist residency on The Murrumbidgee River from beginning to end.
Travelling the entire length of The Murrumbidgee stopping where environments dramatically change, Piva foraged materials to share the rivers diverse and ever-changing landscape.
Snow Gum leaves and stems from the Snowy Mountains, Borer marked Red Gum branches along the Hay Plains with Cambungi and Reeds from the Eastern Riverina regions are just a few natural elements shared in these intricately formed brushes. Each forges a close bond between materials from different environments serving as great reflection of this residency.
Piva’s connection to the Murrumbidgee is strong. With yearly sojourns to these environments, Piva has discovered unnatural frequent flooding and water closures, a decline in fish breeding grounds, slumping riverbanks, blue green algae, foreign weed growth and further destructive unnatural processes due to the competing needs of water.
The Rivers Red
The accompanying work on glass delivers an insight into one of the rivers furthest regions in far west NSW. A length of the river where water can be rushed down stream to the Murray or locked in weirs several times a year.
Within the abstract form of the artists own water reflection, stands a large river red gum soon to fall by the bank being taken from under it. A common sight along these bends of The Murrumbidgee.
23 Karat Gold, Blended 22 Karat Moon Gold with 12 Karat White Gold, Enamel and Acrylic on Glass. Painted using habitual tools alongside natural handmade brushes and implements collected along The Murrumbidgee River.
1200 x 900.