andrew nicholls

the water works

11 october - 9 november 2013

We are very pleased to present an outstanding exhibition of drawings and ceramics by local artist Andrew Nicholls.

Water and aquatic imagery has always played an important role in Andrew’s artworks, however this is his first exhibition to focus entirely on this theme. He uses it to “symbolise excessive desire or emotion, be it yearning, passion or melancholy.” This extends to his interest in “sentimental art and aesthetics - for example, as seen in the grottos and shell houses created by the British aristocracy during the 18th and 19th centuries (that reflected a deeply-felt nostalgia for the Classical age), or the use of ocean imagery in pop song lyrics to denote loss and yearning.” (Artist statements 2013)

The ocean has always loomed large in the lives of West Australians, most of whom live, work or play along the narrow coastal strip. Some of Andrew’s favourite local artworks and books have been inspired by it, including Randolf Stow’s The Merry-go-round in the Sea, Wembley Ware’s range of porcelain fish, surfer ashtrays and crab platters, and the paintings of Jo Darbyshire.

His pen drawings range from the quite realistic depictions of sea creatures, such as Ray, to the more imaginative works of Edge of the World and Mermen. Alongside his newer drawings he will also be exhibiting works selected from the last decade, most of which have not been exhibited in Perth. The highlight of these is A coral room 2009, a large nine panelled artwork that can be rearranged to create two different drawings.

Alongside his highly detailed drawings of underwater creatures and nautical themes, Andrew will exhibit a range of new ceramics; applying and firing decal images to found plates and porcelain blanks. Aquatic imagery is featured on these fabulous works as well, such as the Whirlpool cup and saucer.

The exhibition is also accompanied by a selection of Andrew’s favourite songs that employ water imagery. All of his drawing is done listening to music and so for him the link between the artwork and the songs that are playing is very strong. Gallery visitors will be able to listen to his musical selection by lifting the seashells on display to their ears. This installation relates to his interest in “exploring humiliation through my practice, and my goal with this body of work was to trick my audience into feeling slightly embarrassed for me.” Andrew noted that whilst he liked the idea of sharing this somewhat self-indulgent connection with his audience, it “rapidly became extremely confronting as I began trying to select the songs. The process was intimidating in a way I didn’t expect: these songs all have considerable personal significance to me, yet I’m well aware that everyone thinks everyone else’s taste in music is terrible. I became much more fearful of playing the songs to an audience than exhibiting the artworks. As such, this is the most exposing exhibition I have produced.”

Andrew studied at Curtin University, graduating with Honours in 1998. Since then he has exhibited extensively throughout Australia and has been awarded several grants, prizes and commissions along the way. The most recent include the $250,000 commission to create a ceiling mural in the new City of Perth Library (due for completion in 2014), the Turner Galleries Art Angels 2013 commemorative plate, the Perth Council House 50th Anniversary Artist Commission, and a 2013 commission for the City of Nedlands. Andrew is also a highly respected curator and arts writer. His artworks can be found in the collections of the Art Gallery of WA, City of Perth, Scotch College and the City of Nedlands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

andrew nicholls artwork
exhibition opening
andrew nicholls artwork
installation
andrew nicholls artwork
exhibition opening
andrew nicholls artwork
installation
andrew nicholls artwork
exhibition opening
andrew nicholls artwork
edge of the world
archival ink pen on watercolour paper
49 x 56.5cm
2013
$1,500 sold
andrew nicholls artwork
a coral room
[put your hand over the side]
archival ink pen on watercolour paper
76 x 57cm [x9]
2008-09
$9,900
andrew nicholls artwork
a coral room
[put your hand over the side]
detail
andrew nicholls artwork
another kind of merman
decal transfer on recycled Wembely Ware porcelain
19.5 x 27.5 x 2cm
2013
$550 sold
andrew nicholls artwork
another kind of merman
decal transfer on recycled porcelain
26.5 x 20.5 x 2cm
2013
$550 sold
andrew nicholls artwork
australia sinks
decal transfer on Spode bone china
27 x 27 x 2cm
2013
$880
andrew nicholls artwork
bottom feeder
archival ink pen on watercolour paper
57 x 76cm [x3]
2009-13
$3,500
andrew nicholls artwork
catfish
archival ink pen + pearlescent acrylic on watercolour paper
19.5 x 27.5 x 2cm
2013
$450 sold
andrew nicholls artwork
charybdis
archival ink pen on watercolour paper
38 x 57cm
2011
$1,300
andrew nicholls artwork
lose my breath
archival ink pen on watercolour paper
28 x 24cm
2013
$850 sold
andrew nicholls artwork
ray
archival ink pen on watercolour paper
76 x 57cm
2002
$1,000
andrew nicholls artwork
mappae mundi #1
gold lustre on recycled porcelain spheres, turned jarrah
8.5 x 8.5 x 8.5cm + stand
2013
$440
andrew nicholls artwork
mappae mundi #2
gold lustre on recycled porcelain spheres, turned jarrah
8.5 x 8.5 x 8.5cm + stand
2013
$440 sold
andrew nicholls artwork
mappae mundi #3
gold lustre on recycled porcelain spheres, turned jarrah
8.5 x 8.5 x 8.5cm + stand
2013
$440
andrew nicholls artwork
mappae mundi #4
gold lustre on recycled porcelain spheres, turned jarrah
8.5 x 8.5 x 8.5cm + stand
2013
$440 sold
andrew nicholls artwork
mappae mundi #5
gold lustre on recycled porcelain spheres, turned jarrah
8.5 x 8.5 x 8.5cm + stand
2013
$440
andrew nicholls artwork
mappae mundi #6
gold lustre on recycled porcelain spheres, turned jarrah
8.5 x 8.5 x 8.5cm + stand
2013
$440 sold
andrew nicholls artwork
peril at sea: charybdis
decal transfer on recycled Aynsley bone china
15 x 15 x 2cm
2013
$350 sold
andrew nicholls artwork
peril at sea: edge of the world
decal transfer on recycled Shelley bone china
17 x 17 x 2cm
2013
$400 sold
andrew nicholls artwork
peril at sea: monster
decal transfer on recycled Melba bone china
18 x 18 x 2cm
2013
$450
andrew nicholls artwork
whirlpool
decal transfer on Spode bone china cup + saucer
16 x 16 x 14cm
2012
$850
andrew nicholls artwork
remember [walkin' in the sand]
archival ink pen on watercolour paper
46.5 x 46cm
2013
$1,100
andrew nicholls artwork
seahorse
archival ink pen on watercolour paper
42.5 x 28cm
2013
$NFS
andrew nicholls artwork
the demise of orpheus
archival ink pen on watercolour paper
57 x 76cm
2009-13
$1,200
andrew nicholls artwork
ten and a half mermen
archival ink pen on watercolour paper
37 x 57cm
2009-13
$950
andrew nicholls artwork
the drowners
archival ink pen on watercolour paper
102.5 x 66cm
2013
$2,000
andrew nicholls artwork
the other kind of merman
archival ink pen on watercolour paper
48 x 24.5cm
2013
$550 sold
andrew nicholls artwork
untitled [beyond the sea]
archival ink pen on watercolour paper
34.5 x 25cm
2013
$500
andrew nicholls artwork
vanitas
ink pen on watercolour paper
76 x 57cm
2004-05
$1,000
andrew nicholls artwork
wet
archival ink pen on watercolour paper
58 x 39cm
2009
$1,100