2 – 18 May 2024
about the exhibition
Kirrily Hammond pursues moments of the sublime in the everyday through her poignant paintings and works on paper. Her evocative imagery depicts an intersection between landscapes of the imagination and those physically experienced by the artist. This exhibition presents a body of work depicting, predominantly, European skies and landscapes created in response to living with her family in Denmark. Since moving from Melbourne to Copenhagen in 2018, a heightened awareness of light in landscapes has become the focus of Kirrily’s practice. The echoes of a time spent under the bright Australian sun offers a contrast to the subdued Danish light in which she now resides. Kirrily says “The Danish seasons are also strikingly different; in the depth of winter, the sun often cannot be seen behind the clouds… Light becomes a fragile and precious thing… I often find inspiration in those moments of twilight, when there is a soft, glowing light, accentuated by the shadows that merge in the landscape.” A base layer of bright orange paint is applied to her canvases and provides glowing light and subtle warmth that permeates through her imagery. Her mark-making is softly rendered to build atmospheric effects and sensitively reveals details, creating an air of romance and nostalgia in her works. Enigmatic and dreamlike scenes invite silent contemplation as they explore the intricacies of personal reflection and the inner world of imagination and intuition. Kirrily encourages us to pause in our surroundings and immerse ourselves in the small and often fleeting moments of beauty amidst our busy lives.
Australian artist Kirrily Hammond has lived and worked in Copenhagen, Denmark, since the end of 2018. Born in Newcastle, Kirrily studied at the Canberra School of Art and Glasgow School of Art, graduating with Honours in 1997. She completed a Masters in curatorship at the University of Melbourne in 2003, leading her to a successful career as a curator within state, regional and academic art institutions. She completed a Diploma of Law (Collection Management) through the Institute of Art & Law, UK in 2017. Kirrily has exhibited her work in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne and her practice continues to grow in Copenhagen. In 2021 she embarked on a printmaking residency at Statens Værksteder for Kunst or the Danish Art Workshops. Kirrily’s work is held in numerous collections including the Glasgow School of Art (Scotland), Australian National University, Warrnambool Art Gallery, University of Wollongong and Latrobe Regional Art Gallery.
