Nerina Lascelles: 2012

Saturday, August 11, 2012

NOW SHOWING.....

N E R I N A L A S C E L L E S

New exhibition of paintings at

B R O W N K O R T E ' S

Mist on the Diamond Creek, 122cm x 122cm, 2012

Goodness, it's really hard to believe that it's the second half of 2012 already ...so I thought it high time that I connected to share the updates on all things 'Art' in my little world!

Firstly, I've recently hung a new body of 11 paintings in an exhibition at "BrownKorte's" in Kangaroo Ground.
The whole BrownKorte's experience really compliments the Oriental theme in my paintings. With spectacular views and an award winning menu, which is also infused with an Asian flavour, it's a great pleasure to hang my work in this beautiful building.
My personal favourite on their current Winter Menu is: "Hiramasa yellowfin kingfish sushimi, soy, mirin and sesame dressing, bonito flake popcorn" To die for!!!

The exhibition is now showing and will be on display throughout the next month so please feel more than free to visit for a coffee, glass or wine or beautiful meal off the BrownKorte's menu.
The paintings are also available for purchase ... and well who knows..... one might just make for a perfect father's day gift! : )

Migration Flight, Mixed Media on Canvas, 152cm x 152cm, 2012

Vintage Peony Rose, 92cm x 153cm, 2012

Old Studio - New Studio

It is with a degree of sadness that I farewell the most incredible chapter of both living and painting art Dunmoochin over the last two years. The Artist’s Residency Program which was set up in the 1990’s offers an incredible opportunity for local, Australian and International artists to experience living in close proximity with other artists and the beauty of the Australian bush.

I would seem that each and every artist who spends time at Dunmoochin is reluctant to leave (myself included!!) but it’s fabulous to know that other artists will come to be inspired, stimulated and supported in the future. I am so gratetul for all of the connections that I’ve made during my time at Dunmoochin. A heartfelt thank you to each and every one I have had the fortune to meet.

At this point I’d also like to thank all of you who came to visit during the Artist’s Open Studios in May. It’s always such a pleasure to invite you into my studio… and this time in particular – being my final open day at Dunmoochin.

Open Studios - May 2012 Photo thanks to Cindy Plowman

At the finalisation of my residency, I have had the absolute honour of being invited to become a member of the Dunmoochin Foundation. I’m so grateful that I may be able to offer future artists an ounce of the support and opportunity that I have had during my residency. An honour indeed. :)

And in with the New....

Moving house and studio can be quite an upheaval, so I chose to take myself away on a refreshing holiday once the last box was packed. A trip to Europe through the galleries, theaters, culture and countryside of England, Portugal, Spain and France has reinspired and reignited all creativity.

New Studio

Upon returning to Melbourne, I have moved into ‘Frank Werther’s’ studio which is also located in the bush at Dunmoochin. Frank was an extremely well respected man and an incredibly proific artist. It’s a great pleasure to have the opportunity to paint up a storm in the very studio where so much creativity has poured forth in the past!

Winter morning at Dunmoochin

NERINA LASCELLES

Oriental Infusion

Exhibition @ Manyung Gallery

Royal Cranes - Mixed Media & Encaustic Wax on Canvas, 122cm x 122cm, 2011

2012, the year of the Dragon, commenced after much relaxation and rejuvenation over the Summer period. I found the holiday season to be the perfect opportunity to slip away into the studio to create a new body of paintings. There’s such a relaxed air across the land at this time of year… which has enabled me to really enjoy the beauty, silence and depth of the creative process.The culmination - an exhibition of paintings at Manyung Gallery in Mt Eliza during the month of Februrary. The theme of the Manyung exhibition this year contains an Asian influence.

“Nerina Lascelles produces images of sublime beauty and delicacy. With strong oriental influences, her canvases are imbued with the serenity of eastern philosophy.” - Manyung Gallery

Although this body of work continues an influence from Japanese art and zen poetry, the paintings in this exhibition have also been inspired by the beauty, magic and wisdom that my darling 100 year old grandmother Amy has imparted over the years. These paintings also act as a celebration of our deep connection.

Live in simple faith
Just as this trusting cherry
flowers, fades and falls
BASHO
Mixed Media on Canvas, 122cm x 122cm, 2012

Monday, January 2, 2012

Seizui - The Opening

I'd dearly love to thank all of you for your wonderful response, support, and feed back regarding 'Seizui' - the exhibition in the Long Gallery at Montsalvat which ran through the month of August.

The opening evening was over and beyond my expectation with around one hundred in attendance. A warm and heartfelt thank you to Rob Hauser, the CEO at Montsalvat and Shane Pugh from the Dunmoochin Foundation for your warm opening words.

(Photos : Amanda Gibson)

Here is an excerpt from Shane Pugh's speech,

.... "Good art to me is a medium that gives me room to bring my imagination, memories and fantasy's too. Nerina's artworks are very evocative. I am inspired by these delightful artworks.
The Haiku poetry / of few words, expressing so much for the imagination of the reader to play with. Nerina's artwork is a reflection of her passion and skill in creating Haiku in a visual medium, for you to bring your imagination to.
Nerina is asking you to feel your response to her imagery; she has created beautiful images stories, full of symbolism colour and texture.
Nerina's skill with metallic's and mediums give enhancement depth and perspective to her visual stories.
Nerina's work is delightful and inspirational. Nerina's personality and approach to her art is absolutely genuine. Her work comes through her passion, imagination and quest of life.
I find her work very accessible, I enjoy where the images take me, the poetry adds another dimension to my visual journey.As a director of, and on behalf of the Dunmoochin Foundation, where Nerina is currently an artist in residence, I commend her dedication to her arts practice, her participation and co-ordination of the Open Studio's program and her community arts participation. It is artists like nerina that fulfil the Foundation's purpose as evidenced in her artwork"

Shane Pugh

And thank you yet again to the lovely Jeanette Davison has also written up a lovely blog article in ISIIAD regarding the exhibition. In her post titled, 'The Essence of Nerina' she spent several hours interviewing me with regards to the exhibition and my creative process in the studio.The following is a small excerpt from her blog. (text and photography by Jeanette Davison)

Click on the image to read more...

Sunday, January 1, 2012

'Seizui - Essence' - Montsalvat

SEIZUI6 - 8pm Thursday 1st September 2011Exhibition runs until October 2nd

In September 2011 I was simply delighted to have had the opportunity to exhibit a completely new exhibition of paintings at Montsalvat.

Lying down on my back
the Spring sunshine
filled my mouth
SEIBI

The title of this exhibition ‘Seizui’ (Japanese for ‘Essence’)
Each of the 14 works in this exhibition have been inspired after the reading and contemplation of a series of Haiku poems by the Japanese masters. For each poem chosen, I have endeavoured to extract the ‘essence’ and bring the inherent imagery to life through a visual interpretation.
The haiku is an evocative Japanese verse, which embodies a direct intuitive penetration into nature, and life, which offers insight, joy and truth to readers. A simple verse encapsulates a multi-sensory experience of one’s environment.
In the case of Zen Haiku, language becomes a painting, a drawing, a story, a song. Form and formless melt together, so that the poem is experienced, the reader may enter a timeless moment- a space of stillness or meditation. When contemplating the haiku, a deeper presence of life and nature maybe felt beneath the human mental and physical constructs of form.

Lightening flash
flying toward the darkness
heron's voice
BASHO

Through the combination of both Haiku and painting, traditionally termed ‘Haiga’ the aim is to invite the viewer to perhaps experience a similar ‘timeless moment’ or to experience a ‘deeper presence of life’
Japanese masters such as Basho, Issa, Shikki and Buson, have written countless haiku poems portraying their experience of nature and life in Japan. And similarly, monks and artists of ancient Japan painted with a poetic reverence beautiful depictions of their natural world; the seasons, flora and fauna.

After having been living at Dunmoochin for over a year now, one simply cannot help being influenced by the beauty and magic of the Australian bush which encouraged my to translate some of these Japanese haiku using imagery which is more local to this region; including red box and long leaf box eucalypts.