The Power of Spring by Matthew Jones October 10, 2014 Share: Facebook Twitter Abstraction—Création: J.W. Power in Europe now in its final weeks We are well into Spring now which in Canberra means Floriade, thousands of visitors and even more daffodils, pansies and tulips. However, I can guarantee, you won’t to see anything like this in the flower beds of Commonwealth Park … J.W. Power (1881–1943), Flower in Parenthesis 1934, oil and egg tempera on wood; Edith Power Bequest 1961 © The University of Sydney, managed by Museum of Contemporary Art This painting, Flower in parenthesis, is by the mysterious J.W. Power (1881-1943), arguably Australias best, yet surprisingly unknown expatriate avant-garde artist of the interwar years. And if youre one of those people who prefer the beach to gardens and flowers when the warmer weather comes … Powers got you covered there as well. J.W. Power (1881–1943), Seaside still life 1926, oil on canvas; 50.6 x 76.5 cm, Edith Power Bequest 1961 © The University of Sydney, managed by Museum of Contemporary Art To see these works, and many more, just take a short 15 minute walk across the lake from Floriade to the National Library of Australia. These works are part of an exhibition called Abstraction–Création: J.W. Power in Europe 1921–1938 which brings together Power’s paintings from the University of Sydney and his sketchbooks held by the Library. Power is probably best known for his generous bequest to the University of Sydney which led to the formation of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney. However he was also an accomplished painter and art theorist. Power trained under Fernand Léger, exhibited in some of the top avant-garde galleries of London and Paris during the 1920s and 30s and was part of the Abstraction–Création group (a collective of prominent European abstract painters). One of the highlights of the exhibition includes a unique recreation of the show he held at Abstraction–Création’s Parisian gallery in 1934. Curators, Ann Stephen and Andrew
Posted on: Mon, 13 Oct 2014 05:00:15 +0000
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