February 24, 2016

ARTIST LYNDAL HARGRAVE







Lyndal Hargrave’s fascination with geometry continues in her latest exhibition at Edwina Corlette Gallery. “I’m drawn to patterns that shape our universe - the hexagons of a beehive, the fractals of a fern, the prisms of minerals,” she says. “I’m moving away from hard edge geometry to a more organic, lighter approach.” While Lyndal studied art and teaching at university, and taught for a number of years, for 20 years she juggled art-making and raising a family. However, since 2006 she has been able to dedicate more time to the studio and soon afterwards she was selected for several competitions and won the Mosman Art Prize Insitu in 2011. Her current exhibition New Geometricks runs until 27 February. Later in the year she will exhibit at Gallerysmith in Melbourne.

Which five words best describe you? Authentic, creative, curious, grateful, perceptive.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? After four years of secondary art teaching, my husband and I travelled the world for two years before starting our family. I then juggled raising three daughters and artwork for about 20 years - approaching numerous galleries and having many exhibitions along the way. I don’t feel I really gave my career full attention until 2006 when I pushed myself to network with art advocates and put aside my nerves and approached the galleries I really wanted to work with. A magical change came around 2010 when I realised I no longer had to contact galleries, they were now contacting me.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Realising that the unproductive times when all your work seems to fail is always followed by a breakthrough eventually. Be persistent and passionate.

What’s your proudest career achievement? Inventing my complex sculptures using timber coat hangers that have been selected and acquired for numerous prizes including the international Lace exhibition at the Sydney Powerhouse, Gold Coast Regional gallery and Artbank. I love that it was a totally original concept.

What’s been your best decision? Following my heart and moving back to painting after years of sculpture.

Who inspires you? Fiona Hall always inspires me with her depths of creativity and incredible workmanship.

What are you passionate about? My family and friends, working all day in a field I love, travel, and when I can manage it, surfing at Lennox Head.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Nick Cave. I’d love to know how someone so talented and original ticks.

What dream do you still want to fulfil? To have my work selected for a major public museum like GOMA.

What are you reading? I confess I haven’t read a novel for ages but do a lot of Googling. Today I read about comparisons for preserving timber, a wonderful article about Eva Hesse and some research on fractals. Go figure!