SIDE GALLERY BURN Group Exhibition 2022

1- 17 December 2022 Brisbane, Australia

Side Gallery’s end-of-year show is a ‘small work’ exhibition of local mixed media artists based around a theme.

BURN elicits subjective definitions and associations:

“To burn, to light the fire, to seal or cauterise (thus heal), to long for, to ignite, to burn out, or to heat. Common idioms include burning the candle at both ends, one's bridge, or the midnight oil”. Associations include climate change, our environment, warmth, colour, pain, repair, scorch, cremate, or char. 

Laura Brinin, Curator 2022

Inspired by this theme, I have consolidated images taken over many years from my “Essay of the Dark” and “Night Secrets” collections, interpreting an internal fire about the theatrics of existential glow or presence. These images circumnavigate the physical or known boundaries, exuding an enticing ability to draw us in, envelope our view, and where we seek respite and meaning in the dark.

… to burn is to yearn, … pondering the essay of light, … where lush folds hinder and restrain, … hiding secrets, and revealing little, … in the reflection on urban frontage, … and where the world merges, abstracted and confused, … chaos reigns out of order, … and the world blurs softened with shadow and quietly retreats.