Adam Cullen, Ned Kelly, 2009. Acrylic on canvas, 183 x 183cm. Courtesy: the artist and Nanda\Hobbs, Sydney.

Nanda\Hobbs presents their Summer Exhibition, and the first show of 2024, Beautiful Things.

“Far from conventional, this exhibition is testament to the nuanced complexities inherent in the diverse voices of contemporary art. The titular concept challenges viewers to perceive beauty not as a static construct, but as a dynamic, ever-evolving dialogue between artist and subject.

Here, the provocative strokes of Adam Cullen converse with the meditative softness of Hubert Pareroultja’s landscapes. Jun Chen’s energetic flora engages in visual discourse with Suzanne Archer’s environmental reflections, diverging from what we might immediately consider “beautiful”. James Powditch’s use of recycled materials, rusted from age and use, calls into question aesthetic standards of beauty. The works, expertly selected, weave together disparate threads of style, medium, and intention—an inquiry into the ways artists navigate and subvert established notions of beauty.

Beautiful Things is an homage to the perpetual quest for meaning and aesthetic significance in art. This is not a proclamation of absolute truths, but an invitation to join an ongoing discourse where beauty emerges as a subjective negotiation between artist and observer. Patrons are not merely spectators but active contributors to the age-old questions: How do we define what is beautiful? How does the artist challenge beauty as an aesthetic discipline?

Carefully selected secondary market and blue-chip works establish a fluid narrative, bridging the traditional and the contemporary. We are encouraged not just to witness, but to unravel the intricate threads that connect us to these beautiful things, in a way that is both complex and unapologetic.” – Anthea Mentzalis, January, 2024.

Exhibited artists include Robert Malherbe, Lin Onus, Bill Whiskey Tjapaltjarri, Hubert Pareroultja, Aaron Kinnane, Katherine Hattam, Dianne Gall, James Drinkwater, Jun Chen, Peter Booth, Nicholas Blowers, Suzanne Archer, Rick Amor, James Powditch, Sam Leach, and Adam Cullen.