John Ryrie’s work is underpinned by an affinity for printmaking. He is drawn to symbolism and expressionism, in particular the woodcuts prints of late 19th century Edvard Munch (the artist best known for ‘The Scream’), Japanese artist Shiko Munakata and William Blake. Ryrie’s ‘Constitutional’ is imbued with absurdity and ironic humour, providing a powerful allegory of futile labor and the stubborn resistance to change.

The tree—a symbol of tradition, history, and nature—has been uprooted and crudely mobilised. A man strains under the burden of a thick harness, attempting to pull the large tree which rests on four small, inadequate wheels. This action represents the Sisyphean and seemingly futile task of modern progress; the effort required to uphold or drag cumbersome, historical frameworks into a new landscape.

An esteemed printmaker, Ryrie was awarded the Grand Prize in the Silk Cut Award for Linocut Prints and a finalist in the Geelong acquisitive print awards, and is represented at the National Gallery of Australia. Exploring tensions between nature vs. industry, tradition vs. modernity, and individual effort vs. systemic constraint, ‘Constitutional’ invites prolonged looking and interpretation. This is the perfect conversation piece for any politically-conscious collector.

John RYRIE (1961 - )
'Constitutional' 2018
linocut on paper
Edition of 16
Image Size: 35 x 37 cm
Dimensions: 50 x 54 cm
Signed: Editioned, titled, signed 'John Ryrie' and dated in margin

Comes with Letter of Provenance

Condition: Excellent:

(c) The Artist or Assignee