Today’s post is so full of images I’m almost speechless. Well I’m actually a bit speechless at the impact of this work. When I read Leo’s email stating that this “work was about memorialization and a bit of politics of the time”, well the impact was even greater. There is a monumental overtone of sadness and unease – yet also rest, a sense of paying homage and an unsettling edge to this work. I only wish I could see it in the flesh as I’m sure it would be even more amazing. This work is from a show Leo had at the Jam Factory in Adelaide,South Australia in 2007, and a bronze sculpture on the beach from a few years earlier.
A bit of background about LEO NEUHOFER:
Education
2004 Bachelor of Visual Arts, Honours, University of SA, Underdale Campus
1987 Life drawing, Central School of Art, SA
1976 School of Art, University of SA Bachelor of Visual Arts
Professional Development
2000-2001 Residency – University of SA Ceramic Studio
2000 Residency- JamFactory Contemporary Craft and Design Ceramic Studio
1987 JamFactory Workshops
1987 Member of Central Studio Collective
1979 – 1986 Thrower, Bennett’s Magill Pottery Workshops
1978 Wood Sculpture, ST Antonin Noble Val, France
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2007 Connections, Jam Factory Contemporary Craft and Design, Adelaide, SA
2001 Translations, JamFactory Contemporary Craft and Design, Adelaide, SA
1996 Greenaway Gallery, Kenttown, SA Untitled
1994 Gargantuan Prospect Gallery, Prospect, SA
1993 Soulfairing Festival Theatre Foyer, Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide, SA
1992 Prospect Gallery Studio, Prospect, SA Untitled
1992 Christine Abrahams Gallery, Richmond Vic Untitled
Selected Group Exhibitions
2007 SA Ceramic Award ,Central Gallery, Norwood, SA
2006 Collectanea, South Australia Museum, Adelaide, SA
2005 Crockery, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA
2005 SA Ceramic Award, Central Gallery, Norwood, SA
2004 The Last Picture Show, N Gallery Uni SA Graduation Show, Underdale, SA
2002 Summer Group Show, Haeciety Art Gallery, Melbourne VIC
2001 SA Ceramic Award, Central Gallery, Norwood, SA
2001 10 years of Jamboree, JamFactory Contemporary Craft and Design, Adelaide, SA
2001 Blanc, Artspace Festival Centre, Adelaide, SA
2001 Odyssey, Adelaide, Hindley St,.SA
2001 Jamboree Clay JamFactory Contemporary Craft and Design, Adelaide, SA
2000 19th National Craft Acquisition Award, Darwin, NT
Collections
Art Gallery of South Australia, SA
City of Salisbury, SA
City of Prospect, SA
South Australian Cricket Association, SA
Artbank, NSW
City of Tea Tree Gully, SA Commissions City of Holdfast Shores, SA
City of Salisbury, SA
SA Orange Lane Market, SA
Australia Remembers – City of Prospect, SA Awards
South Australian Ceramic Award 2005
Publications
“Forms into New Bodies”, Christine Nicholls,
World Sculpture News vol; 14 no.2 spring 2008
Ceramics Art and Perception issue 61 Sept 2005
SA Ceramic Award 2001, 2005, 2007
Gold Coast Ceramic Award 1998
Impressive work… When it comes to exhibition design I am always intrigued how artist choose to display there artwork. It is great to see when artwork can speak for itself and hold firm in a gallery. I find here locally, and in a lot of other places, that the one thing that always goes over-sighted is exhibition design. To many artists just 'hang' there artwork- it must be 52" center- it has to be on a white pedestal. As artists we shouldn't just 'create' and then 'display' later. If these two are working together during conception, then something unique and original can be created. Otherwise, you just have sculptures on a pedestal and paintings on a wall.
As for the work, I feel the work is very powerful and unique, but the display in that AMAZING gallery space doesn't do it for me. Too much light. Trim that light by half and you got a really edgy display that forces viewers to really approach the pieces and examine them… not walk close to them and walk away because they could see everything from the light.
Gasp! So much beauty!