Ken Reinhard's '35mm' is a sophisticated reimagining of the still life by one of Australia's most innovative post-war artists. Rather than depicting a traditional arrangement of objects, Reinhard constructs a carefully calibrated assemblage of forms, transforming the genre into something unmistakably modern: part painting, part sculpture, and part visual puzzle.

Emerging in Sydney during the 1960s, Reinhard challenged prevailing ideas about what art could be, drawing on the visual languages of commercial design, technology and Op Art. In ‘35mm’, a target-like disc with concentric bands of colour and a sharp checkered pattern anchors the composition, reflecting the fascination with perception and optical effects that defined so much of the era's most progressive art.

Yet beneath its clean, disciplined surface lies a sly conceptual twist.

In a subtle nod to the tradition of the ‘nature morte’, Reinhard replaces the fruit, flowers and game of classical still life with the objects and symbols of the modern age. A pistol and geometric forms are arranged with forensic precision, stripped of narrative and sentiment, inviting the viewer to consider them afresh. Even the title operates on multiple levels, referring both to the calibre of ammunition and the format of photographic film; an elegant pairing that speaks to Reinhard's enduring interest in perception, measurement and representation.

What makes ‘35mm’ so compelling is its balance of visual clarity and intellectual depth. The work is immediately striking, yet reveals new associations the longer one spends with it. It captures a moment when Australian artists were engaging confidently with international developments while forging a distinctly local voice.

Playful without sacrificing seriousness, and rigorous without becoming academic, '35mm' stands as a quintessential Reinhard work from a pivotal period in Australian art. More than fifty years later, ‘35mm’ remains a remarkably fresh and engaging example of an artist whose best works were always loaded with ideas, rewarding viewers with the rare pleasure of art that makes the eye think.

Ken REINHARD (1936 - 1924)
'35MM ' 1969
mixed media on board
Image Size: 28 x 36 cm
Dimensions: 44 x 51 x 4 cm
Comes with Letter of Provenance
Condition: Very Good: Describes a work of art's image as Excellent, but may show some small signs of surrounding wear to paper or frame. There are no tears to paper margin or disruption to the paint surface.
(c) The Artist or Assignee