26 July – 12 August 2018
about the exhibition
Madeleine Winch’s paintings beautifully render the cyclical, and often subtle, nature of our lives. Drawn from her personal observations of human behaviour and her own deeply felt experiences, Madeleine captures everyday moments in time. Open to interpretation, Madeleine’s silent figures are immersed in their own thoughts and feelings. Whilst Madeleine’s previous exhibition focused on the unifying theme of the home and its significance to humankind, her recent series of works are a contemplation on the many aspects of love. As Madeleine explains, “the sense of belonging and deep human connection, the need for both intimacy and solitude, are all subjects I’m instinctively drawn to explore in my art. In effect, they are studies of the inner life. They are personal in nature but are also, I hope, universal.” Madeleine develops her work slowly, often with several canvases in progress at the same time, using a somewhat predetermined palette which subtly changes as each work grows and evolves. Over the years, Madeleine has also enjoyed exploring the art of drawing and printmaking, with her works on paper developing “more spontaneously” than her paintings. As art historian and critic Sasha Grishin AM stated in a review of a previous exhibition, “she consistently refines her images, perfects her surfaces, at times enlivened with slivers of gold leaf, and creates strong and slightly otherworldly images with a hypnotic power.”
Madeleine Winch has been successfully exhibiting, both nationally and internationally, for over 30 years. Madeleine has been a finalist in a number of major awards including, most recently, the 2017 Archibald Prize and the 2016 Doug Moran National Portrait prize. Madeleine has illustrated a number of children’s books, including “Edward Wilkins & his Friend Gwendoline” and “Come by Chance”, which she also authored. Madeleine’s work is represented in the collections of regional galleries throughout NSW including Wagga Wagga, Orange, New England and Dubbo, as well as Macquarie University, National Gallery of Victoria and the Kedumba Collection of Contemporary Australian Drawing.