Despard Gallery is proud to present a thought provoking joint exhibition by established artists by Mary Scott and Simon Blau.
Based in Hobart, Dr Mary Scott presents new suite of figurative paintings for her fourth major exhibition with Despard Gallery. New to our stable, Sydney based painter Simon Blau will kick off his inaugural exhibition with Despard Gallery with a collection of his nationally recognised abstractions.
Although adopting very contrasting approaches, each artist has skilfully employed paint to explore the link between representing physical and non-physical spaces. This includes the manipulation of the material world through processes of action, interpretation, representation and abstraction. Curated together for their contrasting styles, Scott and Blau bring a wealth of artistic experience, highlighting the significant role painting continues to play in contemporary art. This includes how form, aesthetics and colour can be applied to such different effect, but be equally as compelling and poignant.
Vignettes: New Paintings by Mary Scott
Scott’s paintings draw form the cinematic language of digital photography, featuring portraits together with people residing in interior spaces to question how the human body is pictured within political and social discussions. Compositions have evolved as visual hybrids, intensifying the ambiguity between contemporary urban social reality and individual identity. Scott’s work has been exhibited national and international since 1990. Her work is held in major collections, including the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Artbank, Sydney and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart.
Abstracts by Simon Blau
Blau’s uses abstraction and geometric forms to represent the shifting link between materiality and immateriality. His work explores the various role of paint, including how it becomes a record of his creative intentions, thoughts and choices. Blau has been exhibiting for over thirty years. His work is held in numerous public collections including The National Gallery of Australia, The National Gallery of Victoria, Wollongong City Gallery and Artbank, as well as corporate and private collections, such as The Baillieu Myer Collection of Contemporary Art, Melbourne.
‘This new work is using as its’ subject, the space between an image and its’ surroundings. In an attempt to reconcile the tension that may exist between different areas, I am giving significance to the relationship of a work in its’ context.’