Just Landscape

    The Serpentine Gallery is hosting Just Landscape from July 12 to 22. This large group show celebrates responses to the Australian landscape, a perennial subject that endures despite trends in the art world. Responses vary widely: some artists amplify and reflect its literal beauty, others use it as a platform to comment on political or cultural issues, and still others experiment abstractly.

The heritage of landscape painting in Australia spans from pre-colonization to contemporary times, absorbing approaches from Romanticism to abstraction, spirituality, and objective representation. Australians cherish landscape art for its beauty, cultural significance, and its role in supporting Australia’s diverse ecosystems.

The exhibition, curated by Steven Giese, features a range of approaches. Some artists focus on representing sublime beauty. While most exhibitors are local, many have drawn inspiration from places beyond their immediate surroundings. Rhonda Armistead’s painting of the Grampians, following the traditions of Von Guerrard and Buvelot, captures the vast, ancient grandeur of Australia with traditional skills such as depicting distance.

For others, landscape painting serves to express personal connections to specific locations. Artist Jane Hewetson, from Rous Mill, frequently paints a local creek she has visited for over sixty years—a place of solace during difficult times, presenting technical challenges like capturing light reflecting on moving water.

Anna Nordstrom employs contemporary strategies, mixing media to vividly depict the aftermath of the 2020 bushfires and subsequent floods. Australia’s landscape, often indifferent to human needs, inspires these powerful artistic responses.

From Clifford Possum to Lloyd Rees and Elizabeth Cummings, Australia boasts a rich heritage of landscape artists, a tradition upheld by local artists in this exhibition. Over twenty creatives will participate, including well-known figures like Dave Hickson, Michelle King, Susan Jacobsen, and Di Ingram, alongside emerging talents. Just Landscape continues the Serpentine Gallery's significant and inclusive contribution to Lismore's art scene culture. 

Contact the gallery if you would like any information about any of these exhibiting artists.