Eastern Suburbs Art Group

I went with a friend to see the finalists of the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes, it was a fine day earlier this month and we spent some time looking at the paintings including Andrea Huelin’s winning entry (see below). It’s a whimsical work featuring an outlandish plastic headdress. The sitter has pink hair which matches with her puffer jacket. I wasn’t so careful with my photo of San Neil (see below) for some reason I moved my phone before the snap. The work is by James Powditch and it references a famous New Zealand artist whose name I have presently forgotten. The writing at least, and the black-and-white palette. Another painting with a reduced palette is Michael Simms’ portrait of Zaacharaia Fielding (see below), which is imposing and austere. Zoe Young’s portrait ‘Lattrell and Winmarra’ (see below) hangs near the Archibald’s entrance along one wall, it’s also an imposing work, but this time a diptych. Another work that deals with First Nations issues, this time more openly, i...

At the beginning of the week I went to Sydney Modern with a friend named Basia to have a look at the exhibits. I found some things that were new compared to the last time I’d been there, like this large work that looks like a Basquiat. I didn’t get the photo of the label unfortunately so can’t cite the artist’s name but the colours of this large tile work engaged me. We also made some little round balls as instructed to be part of a work in an adjoining room. It was Basia’s first time to see Sydney Modern but I’d been several times since it opened in December. Some things, like the Basquiat-looking work, new other things I’d already seen. We didn’t go down to the Tank.