ANDREW BAINES EXHIBITION @ FRANCES KEEVIL GALLERY

In an introduction to his exhibition catalogue Andrew Baines writes that, “Last year, my mum died, my muse, a tiny Italian greyhound called Fern died, and my dad developed dementia. It was a tough year emotionally.

“In this my latest exhibition, I have taken my suited man and placed him in solitude so he can reflect on his life and try to make sense of it. I use lighthouses , beaches, jetties, and long shadows to create a narrative about life and purpose. ”

As an addendum to this exhibition Andrew Baines arranged for a fully grown cow and people dressed in suits to stand and be photographed in the shallows of Double Bay. Although none of the photos appear in the exhibition these and similar ‘happenings’ have taken place in other states, particularly in his home town of Adelaide.

After a welcome from gallery owner Frances Keevil, the exhibition was opened by the State Library’s Louise Anemaat.

Unlike many other artists, Andrew Baines was happy to tell guests about the symbolism, motivation  and inspiration for each of his works.

When guests told him that his work reminded them of the paintings of Renee Magritte, he strenuously rebutted the comparison as he had never seen . a Magritte work when he commenced his bowler hatted and starch suited ‘Everyman’. In fact the bowler hatted man was inspired by a visit to the UK as a young boy when he ventured into the London underground where he stumbled upon a sea of bowler hat wearing suits going off to their nine to five, isolated and emotion draining office boxes.

Baines did accept a comparison with Australian surrealist master Jeffrey Smart  and mentioned that Smart had commended his work.

When asked why no women appeared in his works he stated that he knew how to draw a man’s body because he was a man . He could not draw or paint a woman’s body because he was not a woman.

Even his paintings of Rupert The Bear and his companion had  dark overtones yet leavened with a streak of black humour.

The visual accessibility and craftsmanship of his paintings will I suspect make this one of the most popular exhibitions at the Frances Keevil Gallery.

A number of these paintings appear in his book  ‘Museum Of My Mind – surreal imagery and quotes to help you escape reality’ published in 2016. ISBN 9781925367171 Publisher Brolga Publishing Pty Ltd

Featured image – Andrew Baines at the opening in front of one of his surrealistic paintings. All images by ben Apfelbaum.

https://franceskeevilgallery.com.au/