I really enjoy the space of Anna Schwartz for its shape and high ceilings. It also works having no natural light only what comes through the front entrance.
The new works by Tom Nicholson are well viewed in this space. A cave is required to display these pieces. I needed to do a few laps of the gallery to comprehend these artworks. They look to me to be large paper varying in size of silhouettes rubbed into black charcoal. The figures are primitive and reminiscent of aboriginal rock art. The artist repeated the motif throughout the pictures. You could call it Contemporary Rock art, which excludes the surface of rock and ochers. At first impression, l was unsure of its significance due to the material and location.
After some contemplation and a read of the catalogue, l had a better understanding of these images. It seemed that this was the result of research that the artist undertook. The correspondence that the artist alluded to as part of the title seemed necessary to draw the whole work together. I did want to read more of the catalogue as it was like a diary of process that resulted in a visual end. The historical Melbourne aboriginal and colonial reference really draws me to the research rather than the actual pieces.
I did find the the correspondence in the catalogue a little fragmented. I also found that l was disconnected from the artwork. I felt as though the artist was representing the work as though it was a extinct ancient culture. That said, Nicholson did acknowledge the Wurundjeri people and the struggle that still exists today. I think ultimately the images where a result of his research but the substance of work could be found in the correspondence.
Well worth a look and be sure to pick up a catalogue.
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