The latest exciting exhibition at Traffic Jam Galleries is Kathryn McGovern’s WILD THINGS.
Inspired by Surrealism and automatic drawing McGovern’s work is at times humorous and light hearted but also acts as an advocate and stimulus for preservation of endangered species and social change. The vibrant, thought provoking works are strong yet seemingly delicate and incredibly detailed. Expect the unexpected in these works that make you blink and look twice.
Based in Queensland, McGovern has been a finalist in various awards such as The Outback Open Art Prize 1014, 2015, Pro Hart Outback Art Prize 2016, Marie Ellis OAM Prize for Drawing 2014 and The John Villiers Outback Art Award 2015.
Roughly thirty works are featured, of McGovern’s amazing pen ink watercolour and gouache drawings.Some are quite small some almost A3 size or larger, beautifully framed and displayed . Some unframed miniatures are also included.
McGovern is I think a balletomane – several of the works include animals as dancers ( eg the two ‘Bluebirds’ paintings, featuring a ram and an antelope , ‘Fake It Till You Make It”, The Only Way Is Up ‘ and Synchronicity , not forgetting ‘Flamingo Dance’.
In ‘At The Bird Bath’ the wonderful dry cracking texture of the rhino is contrasted with the sleek, water elegance of the birds.
‘What Are the Chances’ is an ironic comment on the cut-throat world of high flying business with the two stylishly be-suited leopards.
‘What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger’ is a rather unsettling reworking of the Red Riding Hood fairy tale , with the wolf lurking…
‘Jumping Through Hoops’ is a caustic comment on the world of foxhunting.
‘The Pair’ is a fabulously detailed analysis of two Victorian era ladies, ever so elegantly dressed – but as wolves.
‘Man Made’ alludes to the ‘Pop’ art of the 1950’s – 1980’s, particularly the works of Warhol and Richard Hamilton, and reveals the extraordinary appearance of a human under an animal skin.
‘Let’s Run Away’ and ‘Join the Circus’ are delightful featuring an elephant and a mouse.
‘Ingenious Disguise’ is startling with its leopard dressed in an ultra- chic long floral gown, mask and birds.
‘I love you my dear’ is a lushly romantic floral portrait of a deer as a fairytale bride dressed in pink.
‘Careful what you Wish for’ is somewhat different to the other works included in this exhibition – featuring a tall fox as a genie and a mysterious fortune teller wearing a feathered turban, in lustrous Beardsley like robes, surrounded by various allegories linked in with fairy stories and luck – observe the toad, the butterflies, the raven and the number seven.
‘A Little Birdie Told Me’ is also Beardsley like with its swirling elegant lines and incredible attention to detail.
The above are just some of the works featured in this sparkling, stimulating exhibition.
‘Wild Things’ is on exhibition at the Traffic Jam Galleries until October 21.