The line of Counihan

Woman at the Window by Noel Counihan

AT LAST we are beginning to see glimpses of some of the treasures within the Robert Smith Art Collection, and how they relate to our own community and time.
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Donated to Wonthaggi in 2017, the collection comprises 596 works by international and Australian artists, focusing on themes of manual labour, industry, and working-class life. ​

Earlier this year a small selection of works was exhibited in the foyer of the Wonthaggi Union Theatre. Now they form the basis of a wider exhibition at Berninneit Gallery.

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Hokusai Outside My Window, by Karen Barnes

Curated by Kate Zizys, Drawing Insights weaves together prints and drawings from the collection with the masterful works of contemporary Gippsland artists Amanda Thompson, Wendy Satchell, and Karen Barnes.

The exhibition also delves into the connections between Gippsland artists and their artistic lineage, echoing the social and environmental themes of the Robert Smith Collection.

Moreover, the artists draw inspiration from the pioneering spirit of German Expressionist Kathe Kollwitz, whose unique insights into human suffering provide a poignant backdrop to contemporary concerns.

Mark-making and hand drawing are emphasised as paramount expressive techniques. Thompson, Satchell, and Barnes, distinguished practitioners of the manual art, etch, carve, and gesture their unique perspectives onto the canvas of paper, inviting viewers into the language of lines and marks.

Bob Smith and Wonthaggi
April 29, 2020 - Robert Smith just missed seeing the inaugural exhibition of his incomparable collection in the town he grew to love.

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