Like most of us I read that article in Saturdays Spectrum and found it all a little bit too personal and best left for his biography when he’s in his 90’s. If I had been approached by that journalist I would have demanded another.
‘Highways and Other Recipes’, I really enjoyed this new work it’s showing Luke is growing up. I first met Luke when I was living down the road from the National Art School back in the mid 90’s, we became firm friends and he gave me 2 works which have since disintegrated. I don’t hold that against him, but this show shows he has grown with a better understanding of archival materials.
I met up with him a week after his opening and filmed him talking about his work and he showed me his serious painter side. The video turned out brilliantly, both of us were very happy with it.
His colour palette is changing and his approach has more vigor, it’s evolving and I told him that it was better than his last show. I believe that whatever emotional state you are in, it show’s through your work, it shows Luke has become more relaxed and allowing himself to become closer in finding a better understanding with his landscape and more in tune with himself.
One of my favourites would have to be ‘East MacDonnell Ranges’, makes me want to go there and check it out for myself, love the sky, love the jagged edges, love the colours, well I love all of it, think it might be my #1.
My next fav has to be ‘Cloudshadows, Ilford’, Mt Misery in all it’s glory. It’s dark and delicious. ‘A Murder of Currawongs’, shot by a mutual friend of both Luke and I, just for waking them up is a delight, the birds look more like they are in shock at being just shot.
‘Just Near Here’, show us the diversity of the landscape before him, how it changes constantly in colour and form, I can see his other mentor in this one, Elisabeth Cummings, which is a damn good thing. ‘Still Life (One for the Cook)’, reminds me of that delicious meal he prepared when he came to visit me while I was at Amanda Penrose Hart’s property at Sofala, the meal he prepared was a red meat dish but I do remember lashings of red wine was consumed so I am yet to sample what he can do with fowl. The glass of red in this painting is just perfect, a perfect balance to a delicious Luke dish.
‘Up and Over Lake Eyre’, just like Luke says in the video, you ‘Go into the desert’ not go out to the desert. This painting has everything you want on your journey inland, a pale sky, scorched land and the darkest shadows.
Being only 36 years old at the time of this show, he still has a long way to go but ahead will be a wonderful life...
Fleur MacDonald
10th August - 28th August 2011
www.timolsengallery.com
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