Lot 14

In good condition with no visible signs of repair or damage, slight discolouration to gauze around edges (possibly from artist's adhesive), some surface dirt to lower right hand corner.


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Tolarno Galleries, Melbourne
The National Australia Bank Art Collection

The Seventies: Australian Paintings and Tapestries From the Collection of National Australia Bank, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, 15 October - 28 November 1982

Lindsay, R. (ed.), The Seventies: Australian Paintings and Tapestries From the Collection of National Australia Bank, The National Bank of Australasia, Melbourne, 1982, pl. 79, p. 92 (illus.)
"Although "White Relief - Mirage" 1979, with its controlled use of geometric horizontals and verticals formed by projecting edges and low-relief squares and rectangles, is reminiscent of the constructionist works of the British artist, Ben Nicholson, Kenneth Rowell's work owes more to the influence of his years spent as a designer for the theatre, both in his choice of materials and in the method which he uses. The experience of building small models and maquettes to materialize an idea for stage design entailing the use of cardboard shapes, often also incorporating the use of gauze to create dramatic light effects to form transparent walls that become opaque with direct lighting, and the experience of building spatial shapes and relationships, contribute and are integral features of Kenneth Rowell's recent relief paintings. The title "White Relief - Mirage" emphasises the intangible qualities and subtle light and colour relationships created by the veil of white gauze over the front of the low-relief projections."
(excerpt, p. 92)