Helen NortonNoah

Helen NortonNoah

Exhibition runs from 15 - 30 November 2011Opening drinks with the artist

Tuesday 15 November 6 - 8pm

1046 High Street Armadale, Melbourne, Australia. Ph: 03 9509 8292

melb@libbyedwardsgalleries.com www.libbyedwardsgalleries.com

Helen Norton is an established Australian artist with a long record of highly acclaimed exhibitions, having shown throughout the country and abroad. In 1985 the artist settled in Broome where she developed her unique style and ‘essence as an artist’. This was an exciting period when Broome was absorbing international cultural influences and the place was alive with visitors thanks to the efforts of English entrepreneur Lord Alister McAlpine. Along the way to Broome she had experienced an eclectic mix of adventures. She wove her path consistently through the Gibson, Great Sandy, the Simpson and Sturt’s Stony deserts after leaving St Kilda at the tender age of 16 on this life-transforming journey. Living in the 90’s in Queensland, Helen continued to exhibit whilst completing a Masters Degree in Analytical Psychology. She now lives peacefully in the Perth hills after time spent in Vanuatu and Fremantle. The ‘theme’ for this Melbourne exhibition is described by the artist as “...a congealing of ideas and images coming from the ‘current’ contemporary psychological mood worldwide. I think we are struggling with our loss of a sense of security in the world…I want to make the queer feeling of losing control into images, despite how frightening it feels. Using some iconography of old stories of disaster and rescue (e.g. Noah’s Ark), to help me along, interlaced with ‘familiar things’ from everyday life (trams and identifiable locations) and the encounter between. The work will be a juxtaposition or paradox of our cultured civilization facing up to some rather primitive and bothering matters. Global warming, Mayan Calendars, Immigrants or invaders...and isn’t that what we are? Extremists who know no boundaries, and are grown in our own gardens with love, Globalism, technological invasions, and the loss of the secret sacredness of our lives – e.g. hello Facebook world. All these things stir up odd feelings in comfortable civilized communities, mostly because they trigger core survival instincts and leave no place alone. We don’t sit on a tram or under a tree and dream, we text and blog! There is no secret place. The ‘nest’ is under threat. I am making the paintings about this feeling, the feeling of strangeness about being in control at the same time as having none at all.” Norton has exhibited throughout Australia, London and aboard the QE2. Her deepand often disturbing paintings have been collected worldwide.

Helen NortonNoah

The Capture of Enkido, 2010Oil on canvas150 x 200 cm

Special Tram, 2011Oil on belgian canvas91 x 91cm

Sure Line, 2011Oil on belgian canvas91 x 91cm

Which Fish Was Special, 2011Oil on belgian canvas91 x 91cm

They Rested And Were Followed, 2011Oil on belgian canvas91 x 91cm

Tree of Life - He Would Need To Take Some By Force, 2011Oil on canvas120 x 66 cm

It Seemed Like A Land Of Plenty, 2011Acrylic on canvas91 x 66 cm

Memories At A Waterhole, 2010Gouache and watercolour on paper100 x 70 cm

Horse And A Tree, 2010Gouache and watercolour on paper70 x 100 cm

Good News Was Rare, 2011Oil on canvas92 x 46 cm

They Waited, 2010Gouache and watercolour on paper76 x 57 cm

He Admitted Twice It Was Difficult, 2011Acrylic on canvas50 x 50 cm

Thousands Came But They Wouldn’t All Fit, 2011Acrylic on canvas50 x 50 cm

They Had Forgotten the Basics - Like How to Fly, 2011Oil on canvas50 x 50 cm

Cross Section, 2011Watercolour and gouache on paper25 x 28 cm

He Took It For A Ride, 2011Gouache and watercolour on paper25 x 28 cm

They Were So Busy They Missed It, 2011Watercolour and gouache on paper25 x 28 cm

Other Things, 2011Watercolour and gouache on paper25 x 28 cm

He Always Wanted A Bit More, 2011Watercolour and gouache on paper25 x 28 cm

They Had The Same Shape, 2011Watercolour and gouache on paper25 x 28 cm

1046 High Street Armadale, Melbourne, Australia. Ph: 03 9509 8292

melb@libbyedwardsgalleries.com www.libbyedwardsgalleries.com