23 May - 8 June 2024
about the exhibition
Julian Laffan’s carefully carved and painted woodblocks invite us to consider the everyday interactions that we experience with trees. This exhibition depicts a selection of familiar trees on Ngunnawal/Ngambri and Yuin Country and the Maori places of Tapu and Kaiteriteri in New Zealand. The works relate to familiar locations and stories within Julian’s own life and mark significant points of connection for him and his family. He says “Each woodblock is a conversation with a particular species of tree, considering their pivotal role as connectors within communities of birds, animals and people.” Julian hand carves his woodcuts and chooses not to print his blocks, instead creating unique works by directly colouring the woodblock with gouache, oil and pencil. This is a conscious decision to reference the historical use of the woodcut for the dissemination of information and images. His hand carved, cut and painted timber panels are a creation of prolonged and deliberate labour, calling us to pause and acknowledge our own everyday experiences in our environment. With a strong focus on materiality, combined with the slow act of his process, Julian meditates on the stories that these trees have to tell, recalling their presence as living beings in the world.
Canberra based artist 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 is currently undertaking a PhD at the Australian National University, examining “the interconnections between the woodblock matrix, the print and the tree.” He has worked on cross-cultural print based projects in East Timor, Indonesia and the Thai-Burma border and travels regularly. In 2024, Julian attended the International Mokuhanga Conference in Japan, participating in workshops on traditional Japanese papermaking and woodblock techniques. Julian’s work is held in the collections of the Canberra Museum and Gallery as well as the Print Council of Australia.
