On Wednesday I went to Sydney to visit several galleries. Instead of driving I took the train and had a much less stressful day. It was one of those sparkling sunny days that Sydney is famous for and as I walked through Paddington the air was heady with the scent of Murraya.
First I visited
James Dorahy Project Space in Potts Point.
colouring-in (material) is group show group by the galleries artists. There is a strong and consistent aesthetic to the artists James represents and the exhibition sat really well in the curved walled space.
Sullivan and Stumpf also had a group show of the galleries artists. I enjoy these shows as I am introduced to the work of artists I haven't seen before and can watch out for their solo shows.
Sherrie Knipe's Waterways above was a watering can made from plywood butterflies and in the downstairs galley there were two gouaches by Sydney Ball which unlike his usual minimal work were layered images of drops of paint and which were testament to his skills as a great colourist.
From there I went to Danks Street after a costly retail detour in Oxford Street.
Dominik Mersch had a group show where the Stefan Thiel woodcuts were the standout works for me. I enjoy the shifting grids he creates in works like Ali.
Stefan Theil, Ali, 2009, 44 x 38 cm, cut- out.
Conny Dietzschold was showing the sculptures and drawings of Robert Schad. The drawings explore the line with great elegance and when translated into delicate sculptures the works occupy space in an improbable manner and seem to dance above the floor belying their construction from sturdy steel quad. I would like to have seen them in a larger space to fully appreciate their lightness of form.
Robert Schad, Steel Sculpture.
