NELL
The WAY Home
26 February – 26 March 2022
STATION | SYDNEY
The WAY Home continues Nell's investigation into the nature of human existence. Set amongst the intimately scaled Potts Point gallery, the exhibition reflects on the significance of ‘home’ as both a literal and symbolic space – one that has become especially loaded in the past two years.
Nell’s practice has long tussled with duality and opposition: East and West, ancient and contemporary, individual and communal, masculine and feminine, black and white, dark and light. These complex relationships are drawn out through the range of eclectic references that inform Nell’s works, including Buddhist philosophy and spirituality, rock ‘n’ roll, art history and traditional crafts.
In her distinctive style, Nell has transformed of a collection of found items, natural materials and handmade objects into works that are simultaneously poetic and playful: text-based paintings on Buddhist ceremonial robes, anthropomorphic ceramics, and sculptures made from wooden clogs and walking sticks.
The exhibition title references the often-used expression ‘the way’ to suggest a journey or pilgrimage. Walking – an activity Nell engages in regularly – contains a multitude of ancient and modern mythological associations. Whether pilgrim or flâneur, explorer or migrant, drifter or marcher, the walker engages with their world in a unique way. In the book Wanderlust: A History of Walking, Rebecca Solnit wrote that walking “is a state in which the mind, the body, and the world are aligned, as though they were three characters finally in conversation together, three notes suddenly making a chord.”
Alongside motifs that will be recognisable to all familiar with Nell’s visual language, including smiley faces, open mouthed ‘oohs’, ghosts and eggs, are imagery suggestive of travel or journey: a boat’s rudder to steer, clogs for the feet and walking sticks to steady, and a guiding sun to light The WAY Home.
Nell
The WAY Home 2022
installation view
Nell
The WAY Home 2022
installation view
Nell
The WAY Home 2022
installation view
Nell
The WAY Home 2022
installation view
Nell
The WAY Home 2022
installation view
Nell
The WAY Home 2022
installation view
Nell
The WAY Home 2022
installation view
Nell
The WAY Home 2022
installation view
Nell
The WAY Home 2022
installation view
Nell
The WAY Home 2022
installation view
Nell
The WAY Home 2022
installation view
Nell
The WAY Home 2022
installation view
Nell
The WAY Home 2022
installation view
Nell
The WAY Home 2022
installation view
Nell
The WAY Home 2022
installation view
Nell
The WAY Home 2022
installation view
Nell
you and me 2022
walking sticks, leather, metal, earthenware, enamel paint, polyurethane, natural pearls
90.7 × 48.0 × 46.5 cm
Nell
WALKING home 2022
fabric paint and mixed media on fabric
124.0 × 200.0
Nell
Everything Under the Sun 2022
walking sticks, sticks
14 parts; 206.0 × 206.0 × 7.8 cm
Nell
FIVE REMEMBRANCES 2022
fabric paint and mixed media on fabric
220.0 × 200.0
Nell
A line of poetry 2021
walking stick, giant clam shell, gold-plated bronze
97.0 × 25.3 × 35.0 cm
Nell
You've seen this one before 2022
walking stick, glass, epoxy clay, foam, epoxy jointing compound, enamel and acrylic paint
three parts; overall 91.0 × 18.0 × 22.8 cm
Nell
I'm going HOME 2017
acrylic on linen
99.5 × 80.5 cm
Nell
My Guide 2022
walking stick, epoxy clay, foam, acrylic paint, shell, varnish
100.0 × 10.0 × 9.5 cm
Nell
HOME BOY / HOME GIRL 2021
earthenware, underglaze, metal and wooden stool
2 parts; overall: 135.9 × 42.0 × 37.0 cm
Nell
Ceremonial Ghost 2022
fabric paint and mixed media on fabric
220.0 × 200.0
Nell
baby 2022
hand-blown glass, scallop shell from Camino de Santiago
10.0 × 10.4 × 11.5 cm
Nell
Don't be AFRAID 2021
earthenware, underglaze, glaze
21.5 × 17.0 × 16.0 cm
Nell
I'm Cooked 2019
steel pizza tray
30.0 × 30.0 cm
Nell
After the Walk 2022
4 parts; wooden clogs, walking stick, epoxy clay, foam, shellac, acrylic paint
81.0 × 36.6 × 29.0 cm
Nell
the BIG Sleep 2021
earthenware, underglaze, glaze
25.3 × 20.0 × 20.0 cm
Nell
the seated one 2021
earthenware, underglaze, glaze, enamel paint, wooden stool
2 parts; overall: 35.6 x 18.2 × 29.7 cm
Nell
HOT in the CITY 2021
earthenware, glaze, gold lustre
27.0 × 22.5 × 21.5 cm
Nell
The WAY Home 2022
plywood, varnish, steel, nylon, epoxy clay
93.0 × 55.4 × 5.0 cm
Nell
I'm on my WAY 2021
earthenware, underglaze, glaze
25.4 × 28.0 × 23.4 cm
Nell
KEEP going 2022
earthenware, underglaze, glaze
13.0 × 10.1 × 10.0 cm
Nell
IN and OUT 2022
eucalyptus wood from Eveleigh Railway Workshops, polyurethane varnish, earthenware, underglaze
2 parts; overall: 77.4 x 38.0 × 32.8 cm
Nell
WHO ARE YOU 2021
earthenware, underglaze
37.5 × 20.0 × 20.0 cm
Nell
HOME THOUGHTS LOVE DEEP TODAY TONIGHT 2022
acrylic and mixed media on canvas
103.0 × 82.5 cm Framed
Nell
flowers ARE HEROs 2021
earthenware, underglaze, glaze, enamel paint
19.3 × 12.3 × 12.3 cm
Nell
We're doing just fine 2020
acrylic on canvas
24.0 × 34.0 cm
Nell
yeah! 2021
earthenware, underglaze, glaze
16.3 × 16.3 × 15.0 cm
Exhibition Text
Exhibition Text
by Subhana Barzaghi ~ Zen Roshi
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