A twofold exhibition showcasing linocut printing, titled ‘Send Me More Lino’, featured at the Backspace Gallery in Ballarat in October.
Linocut prints by Australian master John Taylor were the centre-point of this exhibition. An early student of George Bell, the exhibition documents Taylor’s extensive travels through Europe in the 1950s.
From England through Holland, France, Spain, and Italy, John Taylor substituted the lino block for the Brownie box camera, capturing the landscapes and street life of countries whose intrinsic cultures were emerging from the rigours of war.
Returning to live in Australia, Taylor’s work embraced the unique qualities of the native bush as well as more domestic subjects, always with the sure hand and inventive eye that are his signature as a printmaker.
Represented in the collections of the National Gallery of Australia and National Gallery of Victoria, the ‘Send Me More Lino’ exhibition provided the first opportunity to experience a broad survey of John Taylor’s work – and to purchase one of his lyrical pieces for private collection.
Stemming from a long friendship with John Taylor, exhibition curator Andrew Miller developed an interest in printmaking that he has translated to his development work in the East Timorese community of Ainaro.
The second part of the exhibition documents the outcome of that work – early linocut prints by young artists participating in Ainaro community art projects. The works are simple yet poignant, illustrating symbols from both traditional and contemporary East Timorese culture.
Proceeds from sales of work from the ‘Send Me More Lino’ exhibition support the continuing work in East Timor of the Ballarat Friends of Ainaro Community Committee.
Backspace Gallery is an initiative of the City of Ballarat, and is dedicated to exhibiting quality contemporary visual art, design and craft.
