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Review

Exploration of the Senses

A selection of old and new works by Thalia Andrews

Decoy Café Bar Gallery, 303 Exhibition St, Melbourne

26 May - 21 August 2015

Review by Shelley Vincent

In this exhibition of abstract works by Thalia Andrews we see a number of pieces that explore different senses. There is the tactile quality to many works. The scraped paint in Dream Falls replicates the rough texture of rock walls and plunging water.

Beach in Early Morning, acrylic on canvas, 46 x 46 cm, by Thalia Andrews

Beach in Early Morning has a sand-covered beach that you could almost run your fingers through. While the intense blue water is ruffled by an early breeze. Oceans Blue and Red has a heavily built-up texture with a fantastical fish suspended in the deep blue. In Majestic Uluru the rock bursts out of the painting as it does in the landscape. The dark sky above seems to show a different realm that Uluru is connected with. The thick veils of purple colour blot out all vision in Sailing in the Mist.

 

Oceans Blue and Red, acrylic on canvas, 102 x 76 cm, by Thalia Andrews

Sailing in the Mist, acrylic on canvas, 41 x 51 cm, by Thalia Andrews

Other pieces also have the paint scraped or roughly painted on as well as the application of viscous dribbles and swirls of paint, which breaks up the surface creating unexpected areas of negative and positive images. This is used to effect in Sails, Sailing Yachts Yellow and Sailing Yachts in Marina, as well as other pieces.

Sails, acrylic on canvas paper, 45 x 55 cm, by Thalia Andrews

The gestural application of paint is also evident is other works, where it is used to depict swift actions such as the birds in Birds in Flight and Hummingbirds in Flight and, perhaps, a supernova in Starburst.

Birds in Flight, acrylic on canvas, 76 x 102 cm, by Thalia Andrews

The other sense is, of course, sight. The artist has used many bold colour combinations and intense colours. A number of works have red and orange as the main colours, such as Rocky Cliffs, And some show a skilful balance complementary colours, such as the blue and orange in Blue. The intense dark, almost heavy, blues used in Oceans Deep brings a sense of the weight of the water in the depths of the ocean.

Blue, acrylic on canvas paper, 38 x 30 cm, by Thalia Andrews

Oceans Deep, acrylic on canvas, 76 x 102 cm, by Thalia Andrews

Sometimes the artist has used non-natural colours to depict the ocean and sky, such as the yellow in Sailing Yachts Yellow. This with the swirls and blobs of gold paint bring a sense of drama to the setting.

From the titles and subject matter of a lot of the works it is obvious that the artist has a great love of the sea in its many uses and moods. From the shore in Beach in Early Morning to under the waves in Oceans Deep. From sailing on the waves in Yachts at Sea to swimming in them in Midnight Swim. From the good-naturedness of boats in a safe harbour in Sailing Yachts in Marina to the malevolence of a mass of dark sails in Black Ships. From the peace of a sunset in Sun Setting to the danger of a storm at sea in Stormy Seas.

Sun Setting, acrylic on canvas, 100 x 61 cm, by Thalia Andrews

Stormy Seas, acrylic on canvas, 76 x 102 cm, by Thalia Andrews

Apart from the ocean, the exhibition also highlights the artist's other interests - in travel, both in Australia and overseas, and in the natural world. These interests have been a primary source for her work over a number of years.

Thalia at the opening

The first 2 sales at the opening. (2 happy art lovers!)

Delicious muffins & cakes, go together with great coffee!

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