Exhibition at the Mundaring Arts Centre Western Australia →

6 April – 27 May 2018

JO DARVALL RECENTS WORKS ON SILK CANVAS AND PAPER

BBC reports the city of Cape Town is running out of water, yet the world focuses here, our city, the worlds worst effected area by climate change. Amongst this adversity, WA’s Water Corporation provides fine drinking water now and for thousands of years to come due to the innovative solutions and ideas of people, from CY O’Connor to the current engineers. …Darvall’s exhibition, Like Water is relevant to the past and current day. Jo Darvall re-imagines history with her impressive large scale silk panels funded by DCAs Creative Grant, previously exhibited at The High Commission in Singapore and at The Manet Club in Beijing will be exhibited in WA for the first time …at the Pump Station No 1 in Mundaring Weir in conjunction with the 2018 Heritage Festival.

Understanding where we come from helps us define our future …in this exhibition held respectively in the main gallery of the Mundaring Arts Centre, Jo continues to pursue her commitment to pay homage to artist Kathleen O’Connor including paintings that reference both Kathleen and Kathleen’s father - the engineer of the pipeline to Kalgoorlie, CY O’Connor.

On her retune from exhibiting in Asia, Jo’s more recent work also focuses on the beautiful waterways - ocean, rivers and lakes that define her adopted state of Western Australia.

The new works titled Water Ways are a fusion of history spiced with old fashioned poetry ensuring a wonderus journey into ways of water, tantalizing and submerging our unique culture that provides the viewer an opportunity to re-imagine history. Like Water Exhibition opens on Friday  6th of April at the Mundaring Arts Centre.

Heathcote Prints a collaboration Jo Darvall and Bethwyn Porter 2017

Black Sands of the Swan River 99 x 150cm 

Reimagining histories of the late artist, Helen Grey-Smith 1916-2009

Reimagining histories of the late artist, Helen Grey-Smith 1916-2009 Jo Darvall and Judith Paisley create new works. This exhibition presents revealing new paintings by Darvall and ceramic sculptures by Paisley created after conversations with author/biographer Gwen Phillips (Helen Grey-Smith published in 2016 by UWA Publishing) and the daughter of the late Artist Susan Grey-Smith.

Fremantle artist Jo Darvall has been on residency, exhibiting in galleries and Museums in China and Singapore over the past five years, her work is collected by a number of important Australian and Asian Collections such as Art Bank, Janet Holmes a Court Collection, One Farrer Corporation Collection Singapore, a recipient of funding by DCA in 2017 and 2018. An educator at the Fremantle Arts Centre, she is also the founder of Swan River Print Studio recently established at the Heathcoat Cultural Precent WA and Artists for Kids Culture in Melbourne.

Beijing News

Possibly the best review an artist could get !... Im an eternal optimist 

Hello from China

The biggest brush I have ever seen it is resting in a sea of 56 Dragons ... they represent the 56  different people  from a range of religions and backgrounds that make up China !

Christmas at Manet Museum China we will be lighting this tree on the eve of my exhibition opening on Saturday 

The Four great women at the Manet Museum from the left the Curator Simone Wang, me, Catherine Jin  collector and founder of Manet Museum and my International exhibition coordinator / translator Simone Wang

Solo Exhibition Beijing 2-25 December 2017

International Exhibition at the Manet Art Museum in Beijing, China

Raw Umber and Silk. Jo Darvall New paintings. A recent successful collaborative exhibition shown in Singapore and a full-page review in Asian Art News, has sparked a unique opportunity for Jo Darvall, an artist from Fremantle, Western Australia.  The exhibition was titled All that is Changing and focused on a tribute to two artists, Chinese born Singaporean Georgette Chen and Australian, Kathleen O’Connor.

In a world moving so frenetically, and in which much of our culture is considered to be disposable, it behoves us to revisit and honour the artists and their bodies of work that have come before - and to not forget. This concept is not surprisingly universal - and has captured the attention of key cultural icons in Beijing namely the Manet Art Museum and Zhong Guan Cun Magazine.

This exhibition is proudly supported by Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries Western Australia and Zhong Guan Cun Magazine China.

First International Solo Exhibition - Beijing

New Work

Plain Air Painting at Barrett Street Weir Margret River

all that is changing 2017

All that is Changing, new art works representing the creative lives of Kathleen O’Connor and Georgette Chen at the Australian High Commission , Singapore during March and April 2017.

 In this exhibition I was trying to explore and celebrate the creative lives of female artists, highlighting their struggle and personal commitment to be creative. It seeks to reveal a unique time in history for the general public to engage with at a personable level.

All the art works were a collaboration between artist Shih Yun Yeo and I on a recent residency in Singapore see more details and Images under current exhibitions

Artbank Collection

Artbanks recent road tour to WA gave me the opportunity to present my practice to the Curators they selected Sugar Loaf Road to collect. Sugar Loaf Road was one of the artworks from my exhibition at Sagra Art Gallery in Melbourne last year titled Reckless Romantics opened by Dr Chris McAuliffe pictured below in front of the painting. It depicts an area inland of the Tuross River NSW probably the end of the Blue Mountains where my husbands father Peter Darvall has rudimentary rock huts near an old gold mining village called Utopia this area and its stories became the basis for the exhibition and my investigation in our passion for the mountainous Australian Bush.

Show extended to 27 APRIL !Last week to view!

All that is Changing  an International Exhibition and Collaboration

by Jo Darvall (Australia) & Yeo Shih Yun (Singapore)  

Exhibition dates: 4th - 27 April  2017, Monday - Friday 9am - 4.30pm 

Address: Australian High Commission, 25 Napier Rd, Singapore 258507

This exhibition seeks to illuminate the histories and contributions of two artists - Australian Kathleen O’Connor and Chinese-born Singaporean Georgette Chen - who hailed from different worlds, yet bucked the expectations of the time to forge careers in art between the wars. It will also reflect on our attitude to change, and our preoccupation with the new, and what impact that has on our propensity to honour what has come before. 

The exhibition features a new body of work by Jo Darvall and Shih Yun Yeo. There are paintings, drawings and large scale digital UV print on silk as well. The largest painting will stretch for 4.8metres across the sweeping wall, like a Chinese scroll, and the works will feature the kinds of mark making and use of pigment observed in the work of both O’Connor and Chen. 

All that is   (160cmx480cm, Acrylic on Linen)

Exhibition Dates extended Singapore

All that is Changing is an installation of new work featuring large scale 2D paintings. The work has been undertaken by Australian painter and print maker Jo Darvall, and the exhibition will feature collaborations with Singaporean ink painter Shih Yun Yeo. 

The exhibition is inspired by two key pre-war artists: Australia’s Kathleen O’Connor and Chinese-born Singaporean, Georgette Chen. An homage to their work, the exhibition reflects both their painting styles and their stories and legacies, evoked in paint.

The project will be the focus of Jo Darvall’s month-long invitational residency in Singapore in February 2017. During this time a number of art works will be created by Jo, along with collaborations with Yeo Shih Yun. The residency will be spent undertaking further research into the Singaporean artist Georgette Chen at the National Gallery Singapore, to establish any similarities that exist between her and her Western Australian contemporary, Kathleen O’Connor.

Both artists painted and exhibited in Paris in the 1930s, bucking the expectations of the time to forge careers in art between the wars. The exhibition seeks to illuminate the histories and contributions of these two artists. It will also reflect on our attitude to change and our preoccupation with the new. In the midst of a disposable culture and a fast-paced world, the exhibition seeks to interrogate our willingness to honour the bodies of work that have come before. Celebrating the two artists in one place (Singapore) is a gesture of cultural connection between Australia and its near neighbour.

The exhibition had been extended until the 27th of April 2017 at the Australian High Commission Singapore.

The Lotus - new works

JO DARVALL Australia     YEO SHIH YUN  Singapore

Opening night will see a live performance by concert pianist Setsu Masuda and classical guitarist Duncan Gardner– a blend of original composition drawn from Chens love of the lotus and an artists internal struggle finding solace in the act of painting, defining great artists of Singapore and Western Australia.

RSVP https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/all-that-is-changing-tickets-31952178827

The inter-country collaboration is a homage to two artists who bucked expectations to work as artists in the early part of the 20th century. Australian Kathleen O’Connor and Chinese-born Singaporean Georgette Chen

Exhibtion to be opened by the High Commission, SingaporeFriday 3rd March  at 7pm 2017,Guest of honour, Marjorie Chu, Director, Art Forum (Opening 6-9pm)

ALL THAT IS CHANGING

JO DARVALL Australia       SHIH YUN YEO Singapore
 

To be opened by the High Commission, Singapore
Friday 3rd March 2017, 6 - 9pm
Guest of honour, Marjorie Chu, Director Art Forum    

Artist talk & curatorial conversations
Monday 6th March 2017, 12 - 1.30pm

Exhibition 4th - 30th March 2017
Monday - Friday 9am - 4.30pm

Australian High Commission, 25 Napier Rd, Singapore 258507

rsvp@instinc.com    please bring Photo ID for entry

This exhibition seeks to illuminate the histories and contributions of these two artists who hailed from different worlds, yet bucked the expectations of the time to forge careers in art between the wars. It will also reflect on our attitude to change, and our preoccupation with the new, and what impact that has on our propensity to honour what has come before. 

The exhibition features a new body of work by Jo Darvall and Shi Yun Yeo. The collaboration will feature large scale 2D works, a soundscape and some video projection.

The artworks for the exhibition will be ephemeral in material. Large scale single acrylic painting will stretch for several metres across the sweeping wall, like a Chinese scroll. The works will feature the kinds of mark making and use of pigment observed in the work of both O’Connor and Chen.

Launch:Donnelly River Arts Residency 22 October

In 1909 two Wheatley brothers purchased a mill on the Donnelly River Western Australia operating until 1912 when the Bunnings bros took over during the post world war 2 building boom. The brothers created a community timber milling village... 35 workers cottages were built, Mill Club  (the first to allow women), boarding house, general store, butchers shop, school, sports oval and swimming dam. The Village now owned by a private a group have restored the area in its natural character will be launching the first Arts Residency Exhibition at EARLYWORK art gallery in Fremantle Western Australia 6-8 pm 22 October 2016 .

Residency Invited Artists 2016

Jacinda Bayne, Jon Challen, Jo Darvall, Jane Martin, George Haynes, Ken Wadrop

Exhibition:  22 October to 6 November 2016

Beastly Fairy Tales - Reckless Romantics

On a recent search I found Eugene Von Guerard's engraving 1865 which has a remarkable similar feel to my new work Beastly Fairy Tales 1 -5  pictured below No 5 "And the beasts from the wild will be led by a Child" 2016 the works can be viewed at Sagra Art Gallery Malvern until July 30th 2016.

Art Book Collected by the Victorian State Library

"The Rose  the Butterfly the Bee and the Moth" self -published book has been collected by the Victorian State Library Rare Books ! Designed by Fremantle designer Kim Vu Salamosen , photography Eva Fernandez and printed here locally on recycled paper. It was really important that we could ride our bikes to where ever we needed to source materials in order to have the book made here in Fremantle WA. We wanted to leave the smallest foot print in the making and production of it we also wanted to work with people we liked and had a laugh with... enjoying the whole process. Jane Harrison the author is an award winning indigenous writer her fable that drops its delicate petal has has given all of us working on the project the conviction of beauty and simplicity to pursue this unique project. Mimi Duo Setsu Masuda and Duncan Gardner have extended the visual experience into a musical score. 

To buy a book and or CDs they are available at my exhibition Reckless Romantics at Sagra Art Gallery in Malvern - Melbourne and here in WA at the Fremantle Art Centres Gallery book shop and also in New Editions Book Shop WA. There is a limited edition of 260.

Album Launch, Book release, Live show : Japan Tour

Mimi Duo are launching their unique musical score inspired by the Art Book The Rose, the Butterfly, the Bee and the Moth written by Jane Harrison and illustrated by myself

 The Album Launch and Live concert featuring the art work and music is at the Church of Resurrection 3 pm 6th of March 2016 , Swanbourne, Western Australia.

For Tickets Contact www.trybooking.com/KCXZ

mimi duo http://www.mimiduo.com.au

mimi duo with then tour Japan 11th March to the 27th of March 2016

Exhibition Highlights from Paris Bled into the Indian Ocean

Thank you to everyone that made it to the opening night of Paris Bled into the the Indian Ocean!

The evening was a success and it exceeded all of my expectations. Merenda Contemporary was in full swing, with guests, buyers, collectors and most importantly - good cheer!

Although the novels by Amanda sold out on the night and the cultural tour has been booked out, there are still a few fantastic works available.

The exhibition runs until next Saturday the 21st of November at Merenda Contemporary on High Street Fremantle - open from Tuesday to Sunday.

Photo: Bo Wong

It was also so wonderful to meet the new proud owner of my portrait of Kathleen O'Connor. We were able to connect together in our admiration of the great woman and artist.

Photos: Bo Wong and Kim-Vu Salamonsen

You can also catch my works in the Artist Open House Fremantle which opens tomorrow night and runs for 3 days only.  Photographer and writer, Bo Wong covers a number of talented artists in this stylish-design makers event, including myself in her blog Design Satellite.