New exhibitions draw on natural world and Indian culture

Three new exhibitions are opening at Redland art galleries in May, two showcasing local ecosystems and the natural world and the third drawing on a cultural experience in India.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said each exhibition offered unique insights into the way sense of place influenced arts practice.

“These three exhibitions will engage visitors through different mediums and show connections between people and places,” Cr Williams said.

“The mangrove areas of the southern Moreton Bay region inspired the Tidal Collective to produce There is Another World, artworks in various mediums including textiles, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and drawings.

“Watersheds is an exhibition of oil paintings by Brisbane artist Richard Blundell.  Blundell paints outside on a ridgeline at Daisy Hill that forms the south-western watershed.

“It’s from this ridge that water flows through the landscape to Redlands Coast and Moreton Bay.

“Meanwhile, Ipswich-based artist Lee FullARTon has used her experiences of working with traditional woodblock carvers in the village of Bagru, India to create the art works for Mr Chippa the Woodblock Carver of Bagru.”

Redland Art Gallery (RAG) Director Kylie Spear said that, in a broad sense, all three exhibitions related to making connections to environment and with each other through the practice of art making.

“The nine individual local artists who make up the Tidal Collective have responded to a specific environmental ecosystem that is common in Redlands Coast, and the resulting exhibition will reflect very personal views of this coastal feature,” Ms Spear said.

“The title of Richard Blundell’s Watersheds exhibition draws from the geographic areas or ridges that separate waterflows to rivers, basins, or seas.

“Using the ‘en plein air’ process of painting pieces entirely outdoors, Blundell examines the biological and topographical qualities of Daisy Hill and its connections to Redlands Coast.

“The fun and colourful Mr Chippa the Woodblock Carver of Bagru is an exhibition presenting hand carved woodblocks and prints along with puppets and journal paintings by the artist. The form of block printing employed by Lee FullARTon is over 400 years old and focuses on printing on fabric.”

Exhibition dates and locations are shown below:

RAG, Cleveland – There is Another World (Tidal Collection) 7 May-18 Jun

RAG, Cleveland – Mr Chippa the Woodblock Carver of Bagru (Lee FullARTon) 7 May-18 Jun

RAG, Capalaba – Watersheds (Richard Blundell) 13 May-11 Jul

For more information about all three exhibitions, including floor talks, visit the Redland Art Gallery website.