Sol LeWitt and his affinity for Australian art
Image: Sol LeWitt
Tangled bands 2002
gouache on paper
95.5 x 125.5 cm sheet
John Kaldor Family Collection
© Estate of Sol LeWitt/ARS. Copyright Agency
Photo © AGNSW
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The iconic works of American artist Sol LeWitt are being shown alongside traditional paintings by Anmatyerre artists Emily Kame Kngwarreye and Gloria Tamerre Petyarre in an inspired new exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW.
Sol LeWitt: Affinities and Resonances, presented in collaboration with Kaldor Public Art Projects, will feature selected works from the prolific and very influential 20th Century artist, LeWitt.
LeWitt’s output was extensive. Born in 1928, he gained wide recognition in the 1960s with his vividly coloured, abstract wall paintings and architectural sculptures which he called structures.
He is widely regarded as having founded the Minimalism and Conceptual Art movements.
When LeWitt first encountered the paintings of Australian Central Desert indigenous artists, in particular, Kngwarreye, he was drawn to them, finding an affinity with the artworks.
This exhibition explores the similarities among the artworks, placing them in physical proximity and revealing an uncanny, unlikely parallelism.
A centrepiece work – LeWitt’s “Wall drawing #955: loopy doopy (red and purple), 2000” – is also the inspiration for three musical compositions especially commissioned for this exhibition. To compose each piece, a different Indigenous Australian musician and American musician were paired: Chuck Johnson with JWPATON; Steve Gunn with amby downs; and Claire Rousay with E.Fishpool.
“The new music covers multiple genres – at moments expansive and singular in others. Padded ambience collides with rhythmic, glitchy harmonies and melodies while clusters chords disorientate and swirl in sync with the hard edge ‘waves’ in the loopy doopy (purple/red),” says Jonathan Wilson, curator, music and community at the Art Gallery of NSW.
He describes the musical compositions and upcoming live performances as a “sonic bridge between the visual works in the exhibition… completing a synergised visual and musical experience.”
The musicians will perform at the Art Gallery of NSW during the exhibition and the music will also be available via QR code to listen to at any time.
Sol LeWitt: Affinities and Resonances
27 August, 2022 – 12 February, 2023
Art Gallery of NSW, Art Gallery Rd, Sydney
www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions/sol-lewitt-affinities-and-resonances
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