Dog Days: Louise Kerr

9 October - 29 November 2015

'The dog has been our companion, friend and guardian for millennia and has been utilized as a visual motif throughout the history of art. This potent symbol is a constant source of inspiration for me.' Louise Kerr

Dog Days is a beautifully crafted and immersive exhibition that asks us to consider dogs in the contrasting landscapes of the wild and the domestic. For this exhibition artist Louise Kerr has taken inspiration from the landscape near her home, the Wild Dog Mountains south of Katoomba, home of dingoes and wild dogs. The area has a number of geological features named after dogs such as Mt Dingo, Mt Yellow Dog and Cattle Dog Ridge. For her works featuring domestic dogs Kerr was enthused by dogs that she either lives with or sees in her neighbourhood. Kerr’s artwork is also influenced by the broad cultural and mythological depiction of the dog; from historical depictions in the art of Africa, Melanesia and Papua New Guinea to more ‘contemporary’ expressions in the work of artists such as Joanna Braithwaite and Giacometti.

Kerr describes the creative process used to craft her works, ‘I begin with recording and documenting my observations and ideas in visual diaries. This in turn forms the basis for the development of small maquettes.  These then act as the ground to trial various materials and techniques. From this active engagement with material I then produce more resolved full sized works.’

You will notice if you look closely, that Kerr’s works are all hand sewn using cotton thread and hemp twine. Her process of coiling is an ancient basket making technique. ‘This allows me to produce works in low and high relief and three dimensional forms.’ The use of fine twine means pieces can take weeks and months to complete. The construction of the works includes pigment, clay and hair.

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