Delving into the crossroads of art and literature.
As Winter officially descends upon us, there may be nothing more fortuitous than finding yourself cocooned inside, engrossed in a book. It is no coincidence that most art lovers are bibliophiles as well - in literature, the act of literary creation is akin to art making, with words acting as the paints and pencils. Delving into the crossroad of art and literature, this week’s curation will be sure to delight all appreciators of literary and visual ingenuity.
Martin King 'study for dawn chorus #1'
With bound books transformed into a canvas for his creations, Martin King’s works of art obfuscate the line between art and literature. Playfully reconstituting the idea of the ‘Artist’s Book’, King prints directly onto the book, instantly altering the functionality of the object. In ‘study for dawn chorus #1’, this process once again evolves - the entirely two-dimensional piece is constructed to create the illusion of the book-as-canvas.
Martin King 'the birds arrive and are greeted by a herald vo. 1'
Popular within contemporary art, the artistic application of words within works of art highlights the conceptual possibilities of the written language. In the style of Jenny Holzer’s ‘Truisms’ series (1977-1979), the artistic potential of words becomes the focal point. In ‘Opera House’, John Olsen crafts a diptych on a single canvas - both the etching and the poem appearing as a manifestation of his infatuation with Sydney Harbour.
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 John Olsen 'Earth Lock'
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The union of artist David Rankin and poet Lily Brett emerges as a serendipitous manifestation of the marriage of art and literature. Completed by Rankin, ‘Aqua Lily’ is a striking portrait, an ode to Brett’s creativity and resilience. Placed here with John Olsen’s abstract etching ‘Earth Lock’, these two distinct pieces share common literary ground - both were featured on the front covers of books, symbolic of the unity of art and literature.
Charles Blackman 'Afternoon Light'
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