My solo exhibition 'Complex Simplicity' is currently on show at Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery until May 28, 2022. Somehow I missed writing a blog post about it so here's a catch up. 

Firstly the opening

Well there was no opening. It was scheduled for 21 January but I was recovering from Covid-19 and the rest of NSW was in a shadow lockdown due to the fear at that time around catching it. With hindsight I think it was the right decision to cancel the opening. Nothing would be sadder than an exhibition opening that no one came to.

However the exhibition itself opened the following day to a grateful small crowd. I had my family and friends there with me at 10am when the doors opened. What a privilege it was to see my work in such a wonderful environment - space, light and white walls. Us artists don't get to see our work this way all that often. We are usually squashed into smaller than desired spaces with our works stacked against the walls, in piles, or squashed up next to each other in whatever display area we have. What a treat to see my beauties in the gallery!

What is there to see?

The exhibition is made up of several components. First, and most dramatically there is the large wall of small paintings that I've come to call The Great Wall of Happiness. There is something about small scale works in a quantity that takes up a large scale wall that really transports my soul, and according to reports I've had from visitors, their souls too. 

Then there are the large works. There are five of these, 120 x 120cm around the large space. The curator Chloe Waters has done a wonderful job of no overcrowding the space and allowing the viewers space to breathe between the various elements.

Also in this area of the gallery is/was the video screening of several of my short stop motion animations. Initially this was screened on the large wall opposite the entry to the gallery. I so enjoyed watching people sit down and become absorbed. The whole video is only 5 minutes long and then repeats, but a lot of fun. 

A refresh 

Recently, at the halfway mark of my exhibition's whopping 18 weeks duration, I installed a huge mural on this wall and the video was moved to a tv screen on a small wall. I did write a blog post about this.

The other end of the exhibition has two more elements, my installation 'Optical Brighteners' and 'The Room Without a Roof'. I plan separate blog posts on both of these so I'll just mention them quickly here.

'Optical Brighteners' is an experiment in optical colour mixing. It was quite an undertaking to create and hang. 'The Room Without A Roof' is a smaller side gallery which is an interactive space. 

How does it feel?

Overall I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the experience of making the work, working with a curator, seeing my work hung and receiving feedback from visitors and my peers. I am truly grateful.

If you could do with an injection of happiness and are in the Coffs Harbour area at any stage until late May, make time to visit. You'll not only get to see some uplifting art but you'll also get to participate in 'The Room Without a Roof' which I know from personal experience is a lot of fun.