THE NEXT GENERATION: Lorraine Kabbindi White & Genevieve Kemarr Loy

Posted by LDFA on August 3, 2017

Upcoming exhibition showing 12 August – 30 September

Following in the footsteps of their grandparents, two young artists, continue the tradition of creating striking artworks inspired by their ancestral landscapes.

Darwin-born Lorraine Kabbindi White will exhibit barks and works on paper depicting her family’s country at Mankung Djang, western Arnhem Land. The influence and teaching of her grandfather Lofty Bardayal Nadjamerrek AO is clearly evident in her confident use of fine white lines set against the red ochre background to paint the spirit beings, fauna and flora of her grandfather’s country, often in his specific “Stone Country” x-ray style.

Genevieve Kemarr Loy is from Utopia, around 300 kilometres north-east of Alice Springs; an area which has produced a number of well-recognised artists including Emily Kngwarray, the Petyarr sisters and the Ngal sisters. Genevieve is the granddaughter of Nancy Petyarr and was taught to paint by her father Cowboy Loy Pwerl. She depicts specific custodial subjects associated with her country, particularly the Bush Turkey story, with a bold use of colour and detailed patterning.

We invite you to preview the exhibition, on our website www.diggins.com.au
A fully illustrated colour catalogue is available to view here, or alternatively contact the Gallery to obtain a copy.

Opening speech by Doug Hall AM for the Collectors’ Exhibition

Posted by LDFA on June 9, 2017

“Exhibitions like this with its historical and scholarly underpinnings are really important … to shape our understanding of what’s happening now and reflect on what has been important.”

Doug Hall AM officially opened the Collectors’ Exhibition at Lauraine Diggins Fine Art on Saturday 3rd June 2017, claiming the panoramic exhibition as a serious and scholarly presentation of Australian art and musing that Lauraine Diggins is essentially the only gallerist and dealer looking at and handling Australian art history, in particular at a time when this has never been more critical.

With artworks from Australian colonial artists through to contemporary and indigenous artists, the exhibition encourages the viewer to consider the selection of works in the context of Australian art history, with the accompanying catalogue essays providing illuminating text by revered scholars in their fields.

Hall provided a snapshot of artworks in the exhibition of importance to Australian art history including:

Eugene VON GUERARD‘s Evening After a Storm Near the Island of St Paul’s (1854), one of only four marine painters by this artist “who is truly a romantic classicist with a preoccupation with science and history.”

Fred WILLIAMS, “a true 20th century Australian genius of painting.” “The reach of his art historical imagination, his later interest in Japan and China and the verticality of all these marks, the single beautiful calligraphic gestures, the flatness of the New York School the breadth of his art historical interests and instinctive response to the landscape” can be seen in the group of paintings and gouaches included in the exhibition.

John OLSEN‘s Landscape (1958) – “such a strong painting and such a profound precursor to the You Beaut pictures …. “it is an international painting in 1958 and an extraordinary work.”

James CANT The Dead Girl a painting marked by a “brutal, deep, romantic, dark and brooding honesty.”

Clarice BECEKTT who “almost whispers her pictures into existence” as seen in the atmospheric Winter Morning, Beaumaris (c.1927-31).

Russell DRYSDALE‘s Rain at Cattle Creek (1967) – “beautifully withheld, perfectly confident, great poise – there is no bombast but [the portrait] is not timid either.”

Doug Hall AM is the former Director of the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art and was Australian Commissioner for the Venice Biennale in 2009 and 2011.

A video of Doug Hall’s opening speech can be viewed here.

The exhibition is on show until 29 July and can be viewed on our site here and the catalogue can be downloaded here.

Contact the Gallery for any further details.

Goggomobil D’Art Project Unveiling

Posted by LDFA on May 4, 2017

Watch the theatrical unveiling of the Goggomobil D’Art car, a Goggomobil Dart sportscar adorned with over 60 uniquely painted paper darts, a signature motif of artist Robert Clinch. The car was unveiled by Bill Buckle OAM, designer of the car, along with Tommy Dysart, famous for the G-O-GG-O advertising campaign, and their respective partners, Alvira and Joan. Gasp and clap along as the car is admired for the first time! The opening also saw respected author David Thomas speak eloquently about Robert’s artwork and Bill Hemming of Elfin Sports Cars speak further about the project and Jeff Brown’s driving force.

Robert Clinch Artist Talk – Goggomobil D’art Project

Posted by LDFA on April 11, 2017

We are pleased to provide the opportunity to hear Robert speak about this unique project, the Goggomobil D’art Project, resulting in a remarkable painted art car, peppered with the artist’s signature paper darts.

Listen to the Artist Talk by clicking on the video below.

FINANCIAL REVIEW – European Old Masters lead Melbourne sale

Posted by LDFA on September 8, 2016

Harold Mitchell’s article The Age Friday 12 August

Posted by LDFA on August 12, 2016

Those at the opening of our Collectors’ Exhibition 2016 on Saturday 6th August enjoyed the entertaining speech by raconteur Harold Mitchell AC.

Click here to watch the video of the opening .

Harold Mitchell at opening of LDFA Collectors' Exhibition 2016 — Harold Mitchell at opening of LDFA Collectors’ Exhibition 2016 ***

Read his article from the Business Today section of The Age, Friday 12 August – click on the link below for the full text.

“I was delighted to open an arts exhibition in Melbourne last weekend.

I’ve always been comfortable in the art world after being chairman of the National Gallery and growing up around artists themselves.

And as a result I’ve learned a few rules about openings: don’t get too serious, throw in a couple of jokes and try as best you can to dress like Barry Humphries, including a small colourful sarong stuffed into the breast pocket of your jacket.

It was a wonderful Saturday afternoon at the Lauraine Diggins Fine Art exhibition and the pictures for sale weren’t too shabby. The Europeans included a Guido Reni with P.O.A. on it where the dollar figure usually appears. A Richard Bonington was available at a cool $US460,000 and the Australian contingent included, Streeton, Glover, Conder and a wonderful piece by the extraordinary Australian Indigenous artist Rover Thomas, which I suspect will fetch up around a million.”

Mitchell_The Age 12082016 Australia is Stuck in a Rut and Needs Brave New Leaders

Masters of the drawn line feature at exhibition

Posted by LDFA on July 13, 2016

Nora Heysen and Constance Stokes: Drawings from the Estates

in The Australian Financial Review, Thursday 7th July 2016 by Peter Fish.

Masters of the drawn line feature at exhibition

by Peter Fish, The Australian Financial Review Thursday 7 July 2016 p. 14

Two acclaimed artists, Nora Heysen and Constance Stokes, are featured at an exhibition at the long-established Lauraine Diggins Fine Art in Melbourne’s north Caulfield.

Both women are acclaimed for their control of their drawn line, Ms Diggins says.

“Drawings are so often undervalued, and this exhibition provides the opportunity for both new and established collectors to acquire work by revered Australian artists at extremely affordable prices,” she says.

Among the offering are Stokes’ Jewish Woman in Costume, 1974, in red ink and pastel on paper, and Black Stockings, 1968 in blue ink and watercolour on paper, priced at $4250 and $3750 respectively.

There is also Heysen’s Vivien, New Guinea 1954-55 in conte crayon on paper and Seated Male with Leg on Stool circa 1956 in pencil on paper, at $2500 and $2750 respectively.

The exhibition was opened on May 21 by Associate Professor Alison Inglis from the University of Melbourne in the presence of Connie Stokes’ daughter, Lucilla Wyborn d’Abrera and Nora Heysen’s niece Stephanie Griffiths.