Seeing Light & Shade

Seeing Light & Shade – an exhibition of works based on the theory of Max Meldrum
11 March – 16 April 2023

​The Queenscliff Neighbourhood House Gallery’s Seeing Light & Shade exhibition opening on  11 March – 16 April 2023, represents works by five tonal painters based on the theory of Max Meldrum (1875-1955) and inspired by their teacher, Ryan Brearley.  Artists include: Chris Bubb, Tess Clementson, Sue Hunt, David Jarman and Merridy Witkowski.
 
Tonal practice is distinguished by careful optical analysis of tone, value and hue rather than colour. In Meldrum’s vein, drawings in the exhibition exploit a full range of the Venetian scale of greys to capture subtleties of light and shade. Similarly, oil paintings here relied on a limited palette of just six colours; with gentle forms; ´lost edges’ and contrasts heightened by ‘chasing darks’.  The style documents only what can be seen by the artist’s eye - rather than being distracted, tricked or over-worked by what the artist’s mind perceives should be represented in a landscape, still life or portrait.   
 
The works echo the recent resurgence of interest in tonal art seen recently at the exhibition of Meldrum and his followers’ work at the Art Gallery of Ballarat (2022) and Clarice Beckett, (Art Gallery of South Australia) in 2021 and (Geelong Gallery), scheduled for April-July 2023.  
 
 
Seeing Light and Shade                                11 March – 16 April 2023 
Queenscliff Neighbourhood House Gallery
3 Tobin Drive,
Queenscliff  Vic 3225 www.qnh.com.au