17 June - 5 July 2004
about the exhibition
Glowing evening clouds and approaching storms feature in Wayne Viney’s haunting monotype prints. Although his work is classical in style, Wayne responds to nature in a real and immediate sense, translating unfolding atmospheric changes with rich colour and gestural movement. His extensive experience of experimenting with landscape and scale has led him to establish an expansive, painterly impact with smaller works. As the artist explains: “ ‘The Elements’ marks a change in my work. I have been gradually moving towards a simplified landscape format. In this instance ‘land’ is represented by a single, dark horizontal band. This has allowed me to concentrate on the elements above and below this band, ie, the sky and the water, where the drama of light, colour and movement is explored in endless combinations…the mood of these twenty one monotypes ranges from quiet contemplation, to dramatic effects of nature”. His work has been noted as romantic and Wayne acknowledges the English romantic masters – particularly Constable – as giving him the stimulus to create his unique work. The nature of the monotype printing process offers him a wonderful vehicle for improvisation, allowing for the rapid application of inks and paint, and also ensures that each print is absolutely unique. Wayne finds the technique of working in monotypes “both exhilarating and exhausting – an image will never look the way you expect when printed. This produces both frustrating disappointments and delightful surprises ”.
Wayne Viney was born in Melbourne in 1949, and gained a Diploma in art and design from the Swinburne College, Victoria, in 1972. He has had numerous solo and group exhibitions since 1982, and has received awards and commissions including City of St. Kilda Art Award, and the Sweet Design Acquisitive Prize. He is represented in many public and private collections including The Parliament House Art Collection, Canberra, City of Port Phillip, Vic., Artbank, Sydney and Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Collection, Melbourne.
