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Lighting Reimagined 2024

Lighting Reimagined: Explore the possibilities of light with GIA Studio

Australia

Characterised by the unpainted concrete and bold angular geometries, the Gallery's Brutalist architecture sets the tone for _Form and feeling: artists' studies of the twentieth century_, an exhibition that explores the evolution of artistic practice.  

Curated by Melissa Harpley and Karl Sagrabb, _Form and feeling_ traces the artistic journey from preliminary sketches to refined artworks. It showcases significant figurative paintings alongside rarely seen preparatory drawings from artists such as Stanley Spencer, William Dobell, and Frank Auerbach, revealing how early twentieth-century British and Australian artists used drawing as a fundamental tool to capture both form and emotion before perfecting their final compositions. 

From a lighting perspective, it is a pursuit to create an immersive experience that respects the Brutalist architectural foundation, the art and the curators' intention. With natural light largely absent, the curators and designers take a more dramatic approach to the atmosphere by opting for dark-coloured backgrounds chosen to complement key works and a lighting scheme that focuses on accentuation.  

To achieve the desired effect, combined applications of Framers and Wallwasher fixtures are utilised to create a rich yet balanced sense of contrast between the arts and their background. The Framers are strategically positioned to trace the perimeters of each piece, delivering a focused illumination that makes the artwork appear to glow from within. This precision highlights intricate details and maintains a clean, unobtrusive aesthetic in the overall space. Complementing this effect, Wallwasher fixtures cast a uniform glow on vertical surfaces, softening the contrast between the framed illumination and the dark backdrop.

Artworks L-R:

**Frank Auerbach**  _Looking towards Mornington Crescent Station, Night_, 1972-1973. Oil on hardboard, 127 x 126.5 cm. The State Art Collection, The Art Gallery of Western Australia. © Frank Auerbach, 1972-1973

**Frank Hinder**  _Flight into Egypt_, 1952. oil and tempera on hardboard, 114.3 x 94.1 cm (framed). Gift of the Friends of the Art Gallery, 1953. © The Estate of Frank Hinder, 1983

**Willy Lenski**  _Life may be seen as a gesture_, 1987. oil and synthetic polymer paint on jute, 50.9 x 92.2 cm. Purchased 1988. © Willy Lenski, 1988
 


This interplay of light and shadow is crucial in showcasing artworks that demand notice of details, such as Frank Hinder's _Flight into Egypt_ (1952), which was made using the egg tempera colour – a medium that adds viscosity and forms texture and depth to the expression. Another instance where homogenous lighting across the whole piece is essential is Frank Auerbach's _Looking towards Mornington Crescent Station, Night_ (1972-73), where the artist encourages the viewer to look at his work as an image and whole visual fact, capturing an 'all-at-onceness' in the eye.  

With 117 significant artworks and their preparatory drawings on display, _Form and feeling_ is a celebration of progress. It showcases the significance of artists' storied and often non-linear path to expressing and defining themselves and their works. 

**_All artworks included are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced, distributed, or communicated without written permission from the copyright owner/s and The Art Gallery of Western Australia._**

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Form and feeling: artists’ studies of the twentieth century

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