18 May – 4 June 2017
about the exhibition
Julian Laffan’s woodcuts explore themes of history and identity with the works in this exhibition exploring places in times of peace, yet some may have been significant as sites of major events. The series began after a month spent in Paris, with further travels through Europe and Mongolia providing more inspiration. Julian hand-carves his woodcuts and often chooses not to print his blocks, instead creating unique works by directly colouring the woodblock with pencil and gouache, as seen in this exhibition. This is a conscious decision by Julian, referencing the historical use of the woodcut for the dissemination of information and images. “The images are graphic objects, meticulously hand-cut in timber, essentially functioning as meditations on particular moments. Each piece is hand-rendered in slow motion, the opposite of the instantly posted image of today… Hand-coloured details punctuate the dark surface and echo the poignancy of a moment observed, a small taillight, or changing light in a late afternoon sky. Each separate place in these series of woodcuts has its own independent meaning and is a careful reflection of one moment, captured and re-experienced as vignettes of Le Monde, the world.”
Julian Laffan graduated from the Australian National University with a Bachelor of Arts (Visual) in 2004. He held his first solo exhibition the following year in 2005 and since then has exhibited frequently, particularly within the Canberra region. Julian has worked on cross-cultural print based projects in East Timor, Indonesia and the Thai-Burma border and travels regularly. His work is held in the collections of the Canberra Museum and Gallery as well as the Print Council of Australia. This is Julian’s first solo exhibition with Beaver Galleries.
