Watercolour on paper
Monica Rohan : Inside Out.
After looking at the Gallery websites from the task sheet list, I was drawn to this exhibition held at SCAR.(Spiro/Grace Art Rooms) titled 'Inside Out' by Monica Rohan. I read that ''The Artworks are derived from staged photos of herself reacting to her environment, in situations she depicts are mundane,yet they are made to seem strange and ominous''(1) The subject matter interested me as well as how intricately beautiful these paintings appeared. I was keen to go and have a look!
(1)Exhibition program, SGAR website http/www.sgar.com.au
Walking up Gregory Tce I looked out for SGAR signage or its street number, which ever came first and reaching the high three hundred numbers I realised I must have walked right past..I head back a short way and there it was the ''blink and you will miss this ever so small sign'' on the front gate, of which I now felt like being a little tentative about opening-wondering if they really wanted visitors? Once opened a stark white colonial cottage was revealed. There was no further signs or advertising anywhere -all very discreet. So I walked across the patio to the open front door and picked up a Bio and catalogue from the shelf in the porch. I was welcomed by one of the directors who informed about the Art Room being all about promoting up and coming Queensland Artists and helping them gain a step into the larger galleries. She mentioned that Rohan ''Graduated from Queensland College of Art in 2010 and received a Bachelor of Fine Art with Honours in 2011'' And that she has had a very positive response to this exhibition''.
I glanced around the front room. Everything apart from the floor was painted white. Whilst enhancing the patterns and colours of the paintings, I couldn't help feeling distracted by the starkness. In my opinion the atmosphere was clinical, for such a cute cottage this didn't echo charm it deserved . Catching my attention were a group of about twenty 7x7cm watercolours on paper held in place by magnets,above the fireplace. They were above eye level and being so small quite difficult to absorb the detail. I could see they depicted images of the artist herself in routine surroundings,doing routine things- such as pulling up socks. I looked across to the larger paintings all of which were placed around the walls,without text or information just held in place by magnets, commanding their own space-I note the amount of red dots! Most have been sold!
I look across to the painting I recognise from the website. It is titled ''Drowning''. Here the artist is swathed in laundry of delicate yet detailed patterns and texture,placed centrally in the picture with blank negative space. It is boundary free, giving a floating feel. You wonder is she ''Drowning''as the title suggests in her chore of laundry,or just wrapped in the comfort of warm fabric ,and dreaming? Dangling attracts my attention too. It is also a watercolour of a scene looking upwards through tree branches with the artist loosely draped around the trunk half way up the tree. There is movement and rhythm about this painting, yet, it is as if time is standing still..no going up, no coming down. She is just where she wants to be.
I enjoyed the way in which Rohan has explored routine situations and in my opinion, transformed them into beautiful and whimsical artworks. I will be visiting her next exhibition!
Sally Blyth
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