Exhibition Review: Manningham Gallery, Melbourne 2012
Review by Kim Martin
’The Art of Victor Greenaway
ceramics, drawings and paintings’
Manningham Gallery, Melbourne Australia,
14 March – 14 April 2012
This exhibition featured a survey of work undertaken during a five year period of travelling and working in Italy. Greenaway returned to Australia, as he does each year, with a new body of paintings, drawings and ceramics - works inspired by the art, history and culture of the country. The exhibition was curated by Anna Maas (Skepsi Gallery).
Greenaway has set "the bar high" for this exhibition. He has honed his techniques to produce work that pushes the boundaries of the material. Consumed with the depth, possibilities and complexities of working in ceramics, Greenaway creates forms that are unique and at the same time can be regarded as three dimensional canvases for his ongoing enquiry into brushwork, imagery and decoration. Swiftly applied flowing brushstrokes, of subtle tones and varied weight, lead the eye around the form, or draw attention to a central point. The confidence of the mark making and the style in which Greenaway paints the surfaces have become recognisable hallmarks of his work.
Within Greenaway’s paintings and ceramics there is a sense of order and refinement combined with a character that conveys stability. The disciplined experience of working with clay underpins his dedication as a painter and has clearly left an indelible mark on this maker. Clarity of purpose combined with a fierce dedication to refine and create, highlight Greenaway’s notable style.
This exhibition clearly lays out Greenaway’s motivations and a range of current directions. Selected images are brought forth in a visual feast gracing the surface of the canvases. Greenaway is serious in his endeavour to convey his artistic concerns, which are steeped in the history of Italy. Captivated by the region of Orvieto, Greenaway has settled in to a way of life that fuels his aesthetic sensibilities. Moving between paint and clay allows each medium and thought to feed into the other, thus informing the subject matter. From this platform, Greenaway continues to extend his talent. Pushing through various elements Greenaway explores structure and surface treatments, ultimately stretching his repertoire.