Delving into Victoria Reichelt’s archives
04 December 2020
Victoria Reichelt: Archive opens at Tweed Regional Gallery
Gold Coast-based artist Victoria Reichelt has been creating art for more than 20 years.
Known for her realist paintings, Reichelt painstakingly documents endangered artefacts and spaces in transition. For her latest solo exhibition titled Archive, Tweed Regional Gallery has brought together 25 artworks from public and private collections across Australia, spanning Reichelt’s impressive career.
The paintings in this exhibition explore contemporary detritus; from stacks of books and magazines, paper archives and empty public libraries, to plastic cups and takeaway containers. These objects, imminently redundant, call attention to the rapid change transforming human and natural existence.
The exhibition will also feature Reichelt’s latest series of shiny balloon-constructed images, that the artist describes as ‘sarcastic landscapes’. Their bright colours, trees, cloud and smiley face motifs are at odds with the damaging nature of the material.
“If we’re not careful they may be the only landscapes we have left,” Reichelt said.
Archive also delves into Reichelt’s personal collections - artworks based on childhood photographs that explore her new role as a mother which are intimate and personal.
Her latest work, which was a finalist for the 2020 Portia Geach Memorial Award titled Interior, captures a moment of children at play during this historic time. The work reflects the physical interior that they have been confined to due to the pandemic, as well as the interior life they cultivated.
“Surrounded by a world of things they effortlessly use these as props of the imagination creating narratives for new spaces and time,” Reichelt said.
“We are proud to display the work of one of our favourites, artist Victoria Reichelt, whose work is represented in the Gallery’s collection,” Gallery Director Susi Muddiman OAM said.
Victoria Reichelt: Archive is on display at Tweed Regional Gallery from Friday 4 December 2020 to Sunday 9 May 2021.
On Friday 11 December from 5.30 to 7pm DST, Tweed Regional Gallery will be hosting a ‘Sunset Session’. Book into this extra session to visit the Gallery as the sun sets with artist Victoria Reichelt in conversation with Gallery Director Susi Muddiman OAM.
Places are limited and physical distancing measures apply. Bookings are essential (no walk-ins): https://trg-decsunsetsession-2020.eventbrite.com.au
Downloads
Photo 1(JPG, 65KB)
Caption: Victoria Reichelt, Flood 2014, oil on linen, 95 x 70cm. Geelong Gallery collection © The artist
Photo 2(JPG, 101KB)
Caption: Victoria Reichelt, After (books) 2013, oil on linen, 130 x 91cm. Collection of Paul and Diane Howarth © The artist