Summer Salon

Press Release

The Summer Salon exhibition program is an annual event dedicated to exploring artistic expression from Sydney and beyond. In gallery one, deliberate nods to the legacies of Brancusi, Giacometti, and Yves Klein converge harmoniously in both painting and installation. Genevieve Felix Reynolds, with her poignant wall works, skill-fully navigate contemporary abstractions of time, space, and history. Reynolds not only broadens the horizons of painting but also embarks on a distinct exploration of colour interplaying seamlessly with architectural elements. Adjacent to Reynolds' captivating works, Robby Bennett's paintings unfold as intricate amalgamations of imagery and cultural reference points. These compositions of colour are a visual symphony reflecting the pervasive influence of online and image cultures in contemporary society. Drawing inspiration from diverse sources, including comic books, art historical imagery, family life, abstraction, and online image culture, Bennett's artworks create beautiful and thought-provoking compositions. Tina Havelock Steven's powerful installation, featuring a drum kit flocked in Yves Klein blue, explores new sculptural techniques and narratives. The installation vividly connects to cycles of exploitation, misrepresentation, and misinformation, referencing the ethics of documentary-making inspired by Yves Klein's emotional reaction to the premiere screening of his performance work at the Cannes Film Festival in 1962.

Ascending to gallery two, Gene A'Hern's mesmerizing paintings captivate with a distinctive pictorial language, seamlessly navigating between abstraction and landscape. A'Hern's gestural marks reveal recognizable elements from his everyday surroundings in the Blue Mountains, creating a lyrical discovery of place that captures depth, movement, and vibrant colors. In the same space, Samuel Hodge's exploration of painting through photographic collage and mixed media draws on a twenty-year archive of material. Juxtaposing specific objects from unfamiliar places, Hodge reanimates imagery, thoughts, and feelings, challenging the duty and integrity of the materials he manipulates, including photography, textiles, and digital video.

In the residency space, Orson Heidrich's sculptural wall works in brass or aluminium, delve into the relationship between artist and industry, showcasing a meticulous process of sourcing, fabricating, and manipulating varied physical and digital media in collaboration with industrial networks and the wider community. On the top floor, Bella Bruzzese's elaborate sculptural wall masks and feminine floral paintings invite you into a world of personal histories, exploring themes of femininity, spirituality, emotional identities, and imagination inspired by family traditions from Italy and the Philippines. Each piece is a testament to Bruzzese's intricate craftsmanship and evocative storytelling.

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Press Release

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