Mesmerism
ANDY HARWOOD
SOLO EXHIBITION
It is with great pleasure that Studio Gallery presents the works of Andy Harwood for his solo exhibition, ‘Mesmerism.’ Join us for celebratory drinks on opening night.
Opening Night | 6:00pm – 8:00pm, Thursday 16th October
Location | Studio Gallery, 1238 High Street, Armadale
Exhibition | October 16th - October 31st
Mesmerism, the 16th individual exhibition by Brisbane-based artist Andy Harwood, is an exploration into the mind’s ability to subconsciously adopt an idea. Harwood’s signature style, blending mathematics and advanced colour theory to create an illusion of receding and advancing planes, is known for its hypnotic effect on audiences; and this most recent outpouring of creative energy is no exception.
Mesmerism sees Harwood operating at his artistic peak, showcasing a true mastery of his chosen methods. The works are flawless, impeccably designed and meticulously executed, the interruption of foreground and background both engaging, disturbing and highly emotive.
The featured works are a study in the mechanics of vision, deliberately toying with the relationship between perception and interpretation – and by extension exploring the odd interplay of mathematics and emotion. Ideally, Harwood hopes his work will leave the beholder “in a state”, although what sort of a state exactly is of no particular importance. While this might be easily attributed to some kind of artistic aloofness, this could not be further from the truth; in fact, it is an acknowledgment that, in the end, all of us – artists and audiences alike – are moving through increasingly unchartered waters, reacting to ever-present triggers beyond our own awareness. However, this understanding of individuality does not preclude an artistic exploration of the interconnectedness of all things, through Harwood’s repeated use of the numerology of 9 (the symbol of interconnectedness, unity, transcendence, and the balance of existence) in his design structures.
However, this exhibition also includes an unusual departure – or rather extension – of Harwood’s standard fare, namely the two works entitled: The Habitable Zone. While the works certainly embody all of Harwood’s existing passions – geometry, the illusion of topography on canvas, the deliberate distortion of the viewers’ focus – they are also a definitive departure from his hard-edged aesthetic.
Mesmerism is a battle cry, reminding us of our individuality, duality and, most of all, of the fact that we are all irrevocably connected by the iridescent, technicolour fabric of existence itself.
