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Light
22 March, 2022 - 23 April, 2022
Debra Winn
Light
22 March – 23 April 2022
hours:
Tuesday – Friday 11am to 5pm,
Saturday 11am to 3pm
admission: Free
“When you hear stories of the Ballets Russes and the Ballet Opera, where they used to have artists that would come and sketch and paint the dancers, it felt like we were sort of connecting to that time…
‘Light’ celebrates over sixteen years of artwork inspired by life models and dance companies from New York to The Australian Ballet by award winning artist Debra Winn.
This evocative and exciting exhibition brings together seventy-three original artworks from across all periods of the artist’s career. Many never seen or exhibited before but all showcasing Winn’s highly unique, powerful approach to monotypes.
Beautiful, powerful images of nudes evoking a raw sensitivity created both here and in New York will adorn the walls of the small gallery, while images of dancers’ leap across the walls of the large space at fortyfivedownstairs.
Winn’s introduction the world of dance in New York in 2007 was fortuitous. Inspired by the NYC Ballet’s Artistic Director describing the aesthetic of his dancers as being like Michelangelo’s sculptures resonated with the artist.
Winn became immersed into the world of dance and the joy of creating artwork inspired by dance and dancers. Her artwork is saturated with light and movement.
“With dramatic lighting and beautiful, strong, muscular, lithe, expressive bodies, moving with passion and emotion, it seems so obvious that dance would be a focus for my artwork”
Winn’s dancers and nudes are not depicted in the way one might traditionally imagine, but rather in a dynamic, contemporary combination of expressive abstraction with realism. Winn has created this effect by layering colours onto a copper sheet and then wiping away the etching ink to reveal light and form bringing to life a sculptural and fully modelled figure.
“With the strong element of chance, the abstraction of marks and the unusual textures able to be created with rich etching inks, monotype making is a technique hard to beat,” says Winn.
Winn’s most recent artwork is created from in-situ drawings and photographs made during rehearsals of Alice Topp’s Logos. This was one of The Australian Ballet’s last performances prior to COVID-19, cancelled after Opening Night. The artwork captures the raw power and beauty of the performance.
Visitors to fortyfivedownstairs can expect a transformation into the world of dance as they enter the warehouse-style space. With its wooden floors, high ceiling and beautiful light, it makes the perfect backdrop for Winn’s images. Much like the performances that inspire her, Winn’s works are filled with great emotive energy.
Curated by Mary Tokatlidis.
To view the complete catalogue, please visit here.
Programming
Opening Night: Tuesday 29th March 6-8pm
You are warmly invited to join us in celebrating the opening of ‘Light’, an exhibition consolidating over sixteen years of artwork inspired by life models and dance companies from New York to The Australian Ballet.
This evocative and exciting exhibition brings together artworks from across all periods of Debra Winn’s career. Many never seen or exhibited before but all showcasing her highly unique, powerful approach to monotypes.
Artists’ Talk with Debra Winn and Alice Topp: Saturday 2nd April 3-5pm
Alice is co-founder and creative director of Project Animo, Resident Choreographer with The Australian Ballet and one of Australia’s most exciting and acclaimed young choreographers.
Please join Debra and Alice for valuable insight as they share their experiences of the rehearsal rooms and creating their art.
Artist Floor Talk: Saturday 9th April 3-5pm
Please join Debra as she shares stories about her own artistic journey and how and why she made the artwork on the gallery walls.
‘Light’ celebrates over sixteen years of artwork inspired by life models and dance companies from New York to The Australian Ballet.
CLOSING PARTY: Wednesday 20th April from 5-7pm
It’s a wrap! To celebrate the final days of Debra Winn’s exhibition please join us for the closing party.
This remarkable celebration of Debra Winn’s career, featuring 73 original artworks, comes to a close this Saturday. It’s been a delight welcoming Debra back to the gallery to share her passion for dance in a retrospective that beautifully captures the energy, artistry and grace of dancers in motion.
Join us in celebrating Debra Winn’s ‘Light’.
Free event. Bookings essential: [email protected]
ARTIST DEMONSTRATION: Saturday 23rd April from 12pm – 1pm
Curious to know how the Monotypes are created? Come along and find out! Debra will present a demonstration in the gallery on Saturday 23rd of April.
Layers of coloured etching ink will be rolled onto a copper plate, an image will be revealed by wiping back the plate with a cloth, then hand-pressed to paper to create an artwork.
Free event.