Title

I think of drypoint in terms of braille and excavation: Prints by Mike Parr.

Venues

Drill Hall Gallery [ANG] (31 March 1990 – 29 April 1990)

Date

(1990)

Summary

Single-artist exhibition. Located: Australia (ACT)

Curator

Roger Butler, Curator Australian Prints, Australian National Gallery

Documentation

Catalogue

Web address

https://nga.gov.au/exhibitions/drypoint-braille-a…

Country of context

Australia

Abstract

Mike Parr was born in Sydney in 1945. He was raised in Queensland, and from 1965 to 1966 studied arts and law at the University of Queensland. He dropped out of the course and moved to Sydney where, in 1968, he studied painting at the National Art School. In 1970, together with Peter Kennedy, he established Inhibodress, an artists' co-operative and alternative space for conceptual art, performance art and video. Parr travelled to Europe in 1972 and again in 1977-78. He has taught part-time at the Sydney College of the Arts from 1979 and the City Art Institute, Sydney College of Advanced Education, from 1980. Since 1981 he has made large drawings and has experimented with photocopy editions. Parr's performance art pieces, video and drawings have been exhibited widely, both in Australia and overseas.

Parr's first etchings were produced in November 1987 as part of a joint Australian National Gallery and Australian Bicentennial Authority commission. His rapport with the processes of printmaking was instantaneous. Working with printer John Loane — firstly at the Victorian Print Workshop (now the Australian Print Workshop) and later at Loane's Viridian Press — Parr had produced over 260 prints by March 1990.

Parr is not concerned with the niceties of the printmakers craft, he passionately explores different techniques with total disregard for tradition. There are small plates worked delicately with drypoint and sandpaper and there are prints the size of 12 sheet billboard posters worked with an electric grinder.

This exhibition and catalogue does not deal with the past. Its focus is work in progress, showing what has so far been accomplished and perhaps suggesting future directions.

Roger Butler, 1990

[Australian National Gallery media, 1990].

Last Updated

06 Aug 2024