Cover image of the review
John Nixon (printer, Trent Walter), *Untitled*, 2018, woodblock, printed in black ink, from one chipboard block, 76.0 x 56.0 cm, edition of 5 plus one artist’s proof. Published by Negative Press. Photo: Andrew Curtis

Papermade / John Nixon: Screenprints, Woodblocks & Unique Relief Prints


9 Mar 2019
Papermade, 26 Feb - 17 Mar 2017 John Nixon: Screenprints, Woodblocks & Unique Relief Prints, 16 Feb - 9 Mar 2017

Exhibitions are usually talkative. They start off with the artist's or curator's statements and then usually just chat away with their personalised terminology and their free-associations. I intended to review the Australian Galleries group-show Papermade, as the curator Kathleen Coelho has it billed as a significant survey capturing “the history of Australian printmaking today” (even though it also includes drawings and a couple of photographs). I knew that it was a 'stockroom exhibition', and that these are typically cynical affairs in which the drawers are cleared for the purpose of selling old work. Still, few gallery stockrooms are as multifaceted and as pedigreed as Australian Galleries', established as it was in 1956 and existing now across three locations. Australian Galleries is one of Australia's largest commercial galleries and has been for decades. Change.

Sign in to read for free

Sign in for free to read the archive and get the latest review each Saturday morning. With our readers subscribing to our free weekly exhibition review, Memo Review can continue to publish quality, independent weekly art criticism.

Consider becoming a Patreon supporter or making a donation.

10