BLOCKPROJECTS

• by James Needham
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To coincide with the International Year of Astronomy, BLOCKPROJECTS is pleased to present
Robert Hollingworth’s new exhibition of “cosmos” paintings, Neither Here nor There.
“When we wonder about existence, we invariably turn our faces to the night sky.” RH
The artist:
Robert Hollingworth has held more than 30 solo exhibitions and has shown in Melbourne, Sydney, New York, Singapore and Hong Kong. His work is held in many public galleries. He is the winner of a number of important awards including the Sulman Prize (1990) – also a finalist this year – and the $25,000 Mt Buller Art Prize (2008).
Hollingworth is also a published author. His latest highly acclaimed book, “They called me the Wildman – the prison diary of Henricke Nelsen” was published by Murdoch Books in 2008.
The exhibition:
Neither Here Nor There is a series of large scale paintings (one 3 ½ metres long) that are images of night skies and the universe and locate a position between science and mythology, fact and fiction, the real and the imagined.
Hollingworth sees this subject as representing “the edge of what is known and what is unknowable”.
“Humans have forever looked towards what is called ‘the heavens’ – for the meaning of existence. Myths, legends, astrology, science, philosophy, religion; it’s ‘out there’ that we attempt to find our origins, our future, our past and who or what we are. These new paintings metaphorically represent our desires and longings and our endless fascination with what is probably beyond comprehension.”
“They try to bridge a gap between our poetic and pragmatic selves.”

The International Year of Astronomy (IYA):
IYA 2009, is a year-long, worldwide, public celebration of astronomy, held to mark the 400th anniversary of Galileo turning a telescope to the sky. Australia is one of 63 participating countries and events are scheduled throughout the year.
Robert Hollingworth’s exhibition Neither Here Nor There is listed on IYA Australia’s calendar along with another major art exhibition Shared Sky currently at NGV Federation Square.

Current Show

Title: Neither Here Nor There

Artist: Robert Hollingworth

Type of Show: painting

Date: Jun 01, 2009 to Jun 30, 2009

Time: Wednesday–Friday 11am–6pm / Saturday 11–4pm