Salon Des Refuses 2009

Text only. Images in original document.

Exhibition Review March 2009


Exhibition: Salon Des Refuses 2009
The Alternative Archibald and Wynne Prize Selection
S H Ervin Gallery
7 March – 3 May 2009




This exhibition includes the unsuccessful entrants of both the Archibald Portraiture competition and the Wynne Prize for landscape painting or figure sculpture.

Some small terracotta sculptures caught my eye as I first walked into the exhibition. These are works by Marguerite Derricourt, who is known for larger public sculptures in metal such as the flight of the Bogong which won the Sculpture by the Sea Environmental prize in 2008.

Titled, Odd Couples: conversations across time, this work is a collection of small figurines which are grouped in pairs. One is holding a dog, another is in the style of Degas’ Little Dancer, while another copies Rodin’s The Thinker, giving a mini history of sculpture for the viewer. The style is somewhat naïve and a real change from the usual work of this sculptor. I felt these works were an indulgence into fun for Derricourt and obviously the selection panel liked that twist which meets the exhibitions criteria for quality, diversity, humour and innovation.

Several of the paintings would have been suitable to have been hung in the Archibald.

Leo Robba’s combined portrait of Frank Watters and Geoffrey Legge appears to be a divergence from his usual landscape style and yet the background shows an Italianate style at variance to the faces. The bright blue sky highlights the prominent face in the foreground while the other smaller face recedes off to the right hand side of the large canvas.

It is difficult to know why this work was not selected for the Archibald.

’Curatoria’ oil on canvas 90×90cm

Another work which I felt worthy of being hung in the Archibald was the work of Deb Mostert. This Queensland artist has captured the character of Nicole Warren, a presenter on ABC TV’s show, Collectors and followed through on the collection theme by presenting a panel of different shoes belonging to the presenter and naming them, using fake Latin names, for example, a yellow high heeled sandal is labelled Crocinus antiframpsii.

Mostert’s modern composition and use of bright colours reflects the cheerful nature of her subject.

Tucked away on a side wall was an ornate water colour and gouache portrait of Professor Peter Pinson by Abdul Karim Rahimi. While the quality of this work was good, I think the framing let it down with the paper being warped in the frame. It was a very interesting piece with a colourful surround to the face in the tradition of Rahimi’s Afghani miniatures. To incorporate something of his new country, Rahimi included Australian gum trees in the intricate border.

A very interesting mix of styles in this years selection presented once more in the surprisingly light filled space of the gallery made the visit worthwhile.






References:

 Personal Notes of Exhibition
 Exhibition flyer
• Websites:
o http://www.nsw.nationaltrust.org.au/properties/gallery/exhibitions/salon/default
o http://www.sculpturebythesea.com/svbondi08/
o http://www.damienmintongallery.com.au/artists/leo-robba/
o http://www.debmostertartist.com.au/
o http://www.crossart.com.au/WCAW.html
o http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25200439-16947,00.html