Insights and Gippsland Perspectives at Berninneit
The gallery at Berninneit is hosting Drawing Insights from the Robert Smith Collection.
From now until July 14, the Berninneit gallery is displaying Drawing Insights from the Robert Smith Collection, Gippsland Perspectives, and the Hand as Expressive Tool exhibition.
This exhibition brings together selected works from the esteemed Robert Smith Collection including the internationally renowned works by Noel Counihan and Kathe Kollwitz alongside the thought-provoking creations of Gippsland artists Amanda Thompson, Wendy Satchell, and Karen Barnes.
Curated by Kate Zizys, Drawing Insights seamlessly weaves together the masterful works of contemporary artists Amanda Thompson, Wendy Satchell, and Karen Barnes with prints and drawings from the renowned Robert Smith Collection.
A highlight of the exhibition is the deliberate emphasis on mark-making and hand drawing as paramount expressive techniques. Thompson, Satchell, and Barnes, distinguished practitioners of the manual art, etch, carve, and gesture their unique perspectives onto the canvas of paper, inviting viewers into the language of lines and marks.
The exhibition also delves into the profound connections between Gippsland artists and their artistic lineage, echoing the social and environmental themes that ground the Robert Smith Collection.
Moreover, the artists draw inspiration from the pioneering spirit of German Expressionist Kathe Kollwitz, whose unique insights into human suffering provide a poignant backdrop to contemporary concerns.
Drawing Insights emerges as a timeless exploration of the universal language of the hand, connecting diverse artistic lineages and revealing the profound capacity of drawing as a conduit for shared human experiences.
About the Robert Smith Art Collection
The Robert Smith Collection comprises 596 works by Australian and International artists spanning from 1500 to 2000.
Focused on humanist values and social commitment, the collection offers a rich tapestry of artistic expression, connecting back to the Wonthaggi region through themes of manual labour, industry, and working-class life. With works by esteemed artists such as Noel Counihan, Kathe Kollwitz, and Honore Daumier, the collection serves as an invaluable resource for those interested in exploring the intersections of art, history, and society.
