Crows Nest Gallery print exhibition celebrates life’s brevity with humour, love, social commentary

Toowoomba-based artists Ute Braatz, Sian Carlyon and Jess Millicent explore different contemporary printmaking techniques and their reflections on what makes life worth living in their new Crows Nest Gallery exhibition.

Titled, Memento Mori, the exhibition will be displayed at the Gallery from June 26 to July 21, 2024.

The three artists are experienced printmakers with the Saturday Printmakers group. They use a variety of printmaking techniques to create their hand-printed artworks.

The exhibition title is based on the historical artistic trope of ‘memento mori’ (remember that you will die) – that life is fleeting – and so, we should ‘carpe diem’ or seize the day!

Re-interpreting a long-standing historical artistic practice dating from Roman times through to contemporary ‘still life’, provides opportunities for commentary on social mores.

Death is almost a friendly spectre on the periphery, but it is the ultimate social leveller.

This exhibition celebrates different perspectives about our short lives through the lenses of humour, love and social commentary.

The exhibition’s Meet the Artists event starts at 11am on Sunday, June 30, 2024. This is a free event, with no bookings required.

For more information, please see: Exhibition | Memento Mori - Ute Braatz, Sian Carlyon and Jess Millicent (tr.qld.gov.au)

Enquiries about the exhibition can be directed to Crows Nest Gallery on (07) 4698 1687 or [email protected]

Crows Nest Gallery, at the corner of the New England Highway and William Street is open from 10.30am to 3.30pm Wednesday to Sunday. It is closed on Monday, Tuesday and public holidays.

Images: Download via: https://spaces.hightail.com/space/rlVBspdnOr

1. Ute BRAATZ / Toowoomba’s Commonwealth Bank 2024 / monotype with mixed media / 86 x 56 cm / © Ute Braatz (Top)

2. Sian CARLYON / Existenzia 1 2024 / archival ink and spot varnish on paper / edition 1/3 / 90 x 60 cm / © Sian Carlyon

3. Jess MILLICENT / The Orchid’s lament 2024 (detail) / watercolour monoprint and drypoint / 21.0 x 29.7 cm / © Jess Millicent (bottom)