SYDNEY CONTEMPORARY

They are various in their media of choice, with large scale abstract paintings by Albrecht and Arbuckle, finely detailed artworks executed by Rae andThomson that blur the boundaries between still life and the real world, withThomson producing works that capture the startling marvels of nature in anaesthetically compelling manner. Finally, photographer Clarke created a beautifully haunting and elegiac series that remind the viewer of the importance of our relationship to the natural world.

The five artists are united through the examination of current issues of environment and ecology, weaving a dialogue between a remembered past and a future that is likely to be troubled or threatened. The diversity of art works encourages the viewer to rethink how they perceive the real world, and how they respond to it.

All five artists will be presenting previously unseen artwork that engage with some of the most pressing contemporary themes, reinvigorating the dialogue around current socio-political concerns brought about by the use and misuse of natural resources.

Of special interest will be the premiering of new paintings in a dedicated space by Gretchen Albrecht, commissioned for Sydney Contemporary. Here Albrecht will take the opportunity to demonstrate her chromatic powers with a selection of stained and painted canvases - a record of her reflection on the current universal concern around threatened environments and landscapes.