Unveiled - Review

Reviewed by Regina Su

The art exhibition Unveiled unveiled it's wares on the 17th of March at Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre in Hornsby. Showcasing the art works from four talented local artists, Catherine Brown, Therese Wilkins, Vladimir Pavlovic and Eva Molnar, Unveiled displays an exhibition full of introspection, exploration and passion. Vladimir Pavlovic's photography was very interesting indeed, as an extreme close-up study of the microworld; of feathers, seedpods, bird's nests and lotus flowers. He seems to capture and magnify beauty with effortless wonder and focus. Adding to the diverse collection are pieces of printwork and scultpure by Eva Molnar- a truly professional array of modern art. A theme present in her work delved into interesting recollections of her childhood in Hungary, the expression of her art undertook a childlike naivety in stroke and style, while her approach was of the utmost professional quality. Miniature printmaking, reflections of nature and collage were among the rest of the collection, and they really identifed the stages of the process of each art medium with creative innovation and precision.

Wallarobba is a new addition to the Arts and Cultural precinct in Hornsby Shire and is a wonderfully apt venue for an art exhibiton of this ilk and size. As an old heritage house, the venue has been refurbished for public access and council use and is very conveniently located next to a family friendly park- a short stroll from Westfield Hornsby.

Unveiled is open from Wednesdays to Sundays from 10am-5pm until the 24th of March and is really worth viewing.

For more informations, please visit- http://www.artnewsportal.com.au/art-news/unveiled

Francis Bacon Exhibition - Review

Reviewed by Regina Su

This year, the Art Gallery of New South Wales plays host to a collection of pieces by surrealist, Francis Bacon as part of the gallery's International Art Series. Spanning from the early nineteen forties  until the late eighties, the exhibition covers approximately five decades of his artistry and showcases many unseen stimuli from his workshop and personal interests. The works have been drawn from over 37 different collections, including the Museum of Modern Art of in New York as well as the Tate Museum in London.

Bacon passed away in 1992, but was revolutionary for his time. In this collection of post-war pieces, Bacon exemplifies controversial modern art. Throughout the commentary of the exhibition, we learn of his influences, from studying the works of Impressionists such as van Gogh and abstract expressionists, such as Picasso. As the exhibition progresses, we see the influential nature of  these and other sources to Bacon's work. Controversial and radical for it's time, the art of Francis Bacon is experimental in textures and style, as well as subject matter, for a lot of his work presents a level of homosexual oppression.  Throughout the exhibition, we are shown his social commentary in works like " The Crucifixion" and "Figure in landscape," and these are said to encapsulate his social interests in human brutality and Nazi Germany, as well as his personal interests in radiography and lovers. Both of these artworks highlight the interrelation and combination of subject matter that Bacon exemplified in most of his pieces.

The exhibition itself is a mixture of different mediums- photography of Bacon and his studio, films from at critics and influential films from the 1920's, as well as artifacts from his studio. The exhibition is a great showcase of selected works, however I felt that I need an introduction to his artistic capabilities and endeavors/career in interior design, rather than just a focus on his internal angst and social commentary. I felt that the exhibition was a little narrow in selection and I was Ieft wanting to know more of his progression through artistic styles and why those interested him. For example, late 2012, the gallery showcased the works of Picasso and they displayed the progression of his works- from his ability to sculpt and sketch like Michelango at age 11, to his deconstructionist abstract expressionism. It was because of this chronological progression that I understood the motives and reasoning behind a lot of the later works. I felt that this is was was lacking from the current Francis Bacon exhibition, although it was very interesting to see the masterpieces from one of the most intellectual and controversial artists of the 21st Century.

As an intellectual endeavor, I recommend catching this exhibition before it ends on the 24th of February.