A Highlands artist and printmaker's newest exhibition would take people on a journey through the Nattai Valley in the present, whilst paying tribute to its history.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Landscape with Rock encompasses 30 drawings, prints and ceramic plates by Tony Ameneiro that have been displayed in the Sturt Gallery to be viewed from this Sunday.
"I wanted it to be a local exhibition because it was a local story," he said.
He was influenced by Australian landscape painter Fred Williams' visit to The Crags - a property in the Nattai Valley in 1957.
Mr Williams ventured to the property in the valley where he was housed by John and Joan Stephens.
The trip became a turning point in his career where he produced many landscape paintings.
Mr Ameneiro drew on this visit, but also his own perceptions and visits to the site through a "contemporary lens".
"I used that visual as a starting point for me to go back to those areas," he added.
The idea behind the exhibition "floated" in his mind for years before he took the plunge and made it a reality.
He has previously created art that has been influenced by Mr Williams' visit, with the desire to evoke the landscape.
The drawings were created on site for the exhibition, where he wanted to "figuratively" transport people to the "beautiful and very remote location".
"I hope they could get a sense of what the area looked and felt like," he said.
"I did drawings on site, so I hoped they could get a sense of what it would be like through my interpretation."
His prints were produced in his studio in Moss Vale.
He explained that he was "always interested in showing the human hand at work", and collaborated with former Sturt Gallery director and ceramic artist Megan Patey when he designed the plates.
"Each plate was thrown and fired by hand, so every plate was unique," he said.
Mr Ameneiro said his works touched on environmental themes such as land degradation, land use and the changing attitudes to coal.
He said he was also struck by the coal excavations at the Nattai River in the 1800s.
The artist acknowledged that the drawings and place of inspiration were situated on the land of the Gundungurra people.
The upcoming showcase would be Mr Ameneiro's second solo exhibition at the gallery, and would run until September 19.
Mr Ameneiro said an artist talk was on the cards for later in the exhibition, depending on lockdown restrictions across the state.
A catalogue with all of the artworks can be viewed here, and people can preview the exhibition online.
The gallery has a limited capacity, where masks must be worn inside the gallery, and all attendees must sign-in via the QR codes.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Bookmark our website
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Google News
Make sure you are signed up for our breaking news and regular newsletters