Between Painters presents project specific artworks created by twenty-two artists across Australia. Artists collaborated in pairs over the course of almost a year, with the brief of co-creating artworks with another artist, however they choose to approach the task.
Amid lockdown last year, I was yearning for community during a time of isolation. This experimental project came to me whilst I was feeling a lot of distance, so I decided to create my own community by launching this project.
Artists were invited to take risks and to explore their practice, to utilize collaboration as a means of enquiring about their own practice and, to be challenged through creating with another artist.
Between Painters invites artists to disrupt, to challenge their own process, their construction and aesthetics as a method to dive deeper into their practice. The outcomes are experimental and unique, the merging of motifs and the blending of ideas across the canvas.
It takes a lot of courage and openness to work with another artist in a profession that for the most part, requires you to work alone. Whilst many of the artworks might not aesthetically resemble an artist’s own practice, the notes that were found to be invaluable might lay in the conversations, reflections, and observations of the process.
Charlotte Alldis, curator of Between Painters.
Curators’ acknowledgments
I would like to extend my appreciation and gratitude to all the artists who generously committed their time, vulnerability, and willingness to be a part of my first curated show, to be a part of something experimental and new, and to dedicate their time and energy to this project with enthusiasm and passion.
Thankyou Ellie Hannon, Katie Eraser, Mia Boe, Zoe Irving, Minna Leunig, Amalia Keefer, Lotte Frances, Charlotte Ghaie, Sonia Gill, Lucille Bone, Maya Irving, Kayleigh Heydon, Emma Creasey, Sophie Sun, Emma Currie, Billie Morris, Hannah Nowlan, Lucie Howson, Lenny Larkin, Montana Kitching and Ileigh Hellier.
Between Painters opens at Backwoods Gallery in Naarm/Melbourne on 3 June - 19 June 2022 ( https://www.backwoods.gallery/exhibition/between-painters ).
Between Painters acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which this project operates from , the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin and we pay our respects to Elders past and present. Between Painters also acknowledges that collaboration for this project stretches across Australia, and we extend our acknowledgment to Traditional Owners across those lands. We acknowledge their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. Sovereignty as never been ceded.