Just because I throw paint about, dollop it on, scrape it around and don’t clean my brushes or studio does not mean I don’t like order. This weekend, like a mixed media artist in a storm, there was a smattering of everything; Opera, wildlife photography, stuffed birds, dinosaurs, treasures from an Afghan tomb, a Google train and Sol Le Witt.
It is no surprise LeWitt was drawn to the work of Australian indigenous artist Emily Kame Kngwarreye. They both have a clarity of finished work with layers of meaning pushed and kept under tight reign behind simple lines, a bit like an expertly wrapped parcel held with a piece of string that once pulled will expose a world that could be changed. You know it exists behind that string and it is far more beautiful kept in tact this way.
Detail Emily Kame Kngwarreye
Detail LeWitt Wall drawing in progress
LeWitt was like cleaning off the palette, putting up a new canvas. His work cleans your mind. The Biennale of Sydney had an unnerving edge to some of the exhibits leaving some heaviness like gunked up brushes. Don’t get me wrong, I like the gunk – it has layers to think about and who doesn’t love the Google Train, but Sol LeWitt has a crispness of mind I envy. I want those clean brushes.
Once again we have John Kaldor to thank for introducing Emily to Sol. He definitely has match-making skills.
Exhibition: Your Mind is Exactly at That Line
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