Table of Contents
| Title: | Arthouse Gallery |
|---|---|
| Duration: | 02:26 |
| Year: | 2025 |
| Production: | Handmade Films (Australia) |
| Production Crew: | David Silva, Alex Ballingall, Ben Chew, Luca Rabak |
Robyn Sweaney: “Drift”
Robyn Sweaney’s exhibition Drift at the Melbourne Art Fair 2025 presented a striking series of paintings that explore the evolving Australian suburban landscape. Her work meticulously captures the architectural nuances of mid-century and post-war houses, reflecting on how these structures shape identity, history, and memory. Sweaney’s attention to detail, precise rendering of textures, and delicate play of light and shadow give her paintings a heightened sense of realism, while her choice of colours and compositions evoke a deep sense of nostalgia.
Her works are more than simple depictions of buildings; they explore how homes and their surroundings become vessels of personal and cultural narratives. The absence of human figures in her paintings enhances their contemplative nature, allowing viewers to project their own experiences and emotions onto the scenes.
Sweaney, who has been exhibiting since 1992, is widely recognised in the Australian art scene. She has been a finalist in prestigious awards such as the Wynne Prize and the Sulman Prize, cementing her reputation as a leading painter of the built environment. Her ability to capture the essence of suburban life resonates with audiences, making her work both deeply familiar and profoundly thought-provoking.
At the Melbourne Art Fair, Drift invited viewers to reconsider the quiet beauty of everyday spaces. Sweaney’s precise, yet atmospheric approach reminds us that these seemingly ordinary houses are integral to the Australian visual and cultural landscape, containing stories that span generations.
Kendal Murray: “Vivid Dreams, Evergreen”
Kendal Murray’s Vivid Dreams, Evergreen at the Melbourne Art Fair 2025 transorted viewers into a world of whimsy and surrealism through her intricate miniature sculptures. Using everyday objects such as compact mirrors, teacups, and handbags as foundations, Murray constructs tiny, fantastical landscapes that tell open-ended stories. Her dream-like scenes invite curiosity, encouraging viewers to engage in playful interpretation.
Murray’s work explores themes of memory, imagination, and subconscious narratives. Each sculpture is a carefully staged tableau, often depicting figures in mid-action, caught in moments of adventure, contemplation, or nostalgia. Her use of scale and detail transforms the mundane into the extraordinary, highlighting the power of storytelling within small, intimate spaces.
With a background in sculpture and design, Murray’s practice is informed by a strong conceptual foundation. Her works have been exhibited widely in Australia and are held in numerous public and private collections. She has been recognised with several awards, including the Deakin Small Sculpture Prize, further affirming her significance in contemporary Australian art.
At the Melbourne Art Fair, Vivid Dreams, Evergreen demonstrated how small-scale art can have a large emotional impact. Murray’s ability to create immersive narratives within delicate, meticulously crafted sculptures captivated audiences, drawing them into a world where imagination reigns supreme. Through her work, she invites viewers to embrace curiosity, nostalgia, and the boundless possibilities of storytelling in miniature form.
