2020 has proven to be anything but ordinary. A year where we have learnt to expect the unexpected has brought about its own silver linings. At Informality these came in the form of collaborations, community and a greater appreciation for our natural world. It's been a huge year in all senses, from bushfires that engulfed the East coast of Australia, to the outbreak of a pandemic, through to the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement.
This year Informality is proud to have celebrated its first year since opening its premise. 2020 hosted 6 physical exhibitions, 3 online presentations, 2 public body collaborations and 3 commissioned essays.
JAMES DRINKWATER A Day By the Sea
18th of January- 12th of February
Informality Gallery
The exhibition presented new work from the rising Australian artist, James Drinkwater. The exhibition reflected on Drinkwater's deep passion and intimacy with the archive of history attached to the Australian coastline.
In February, the gallery held its first solo showing with Swiss painter, Diane Chappalley, a recent graduate of the Slade School of Art. The exhibition titled, 'Behind Closed Doors' shared the artists' ideas on the conflict between a commercial object and objects of desire or domestic use.
The galleries first online presentation forced into action when the first lockdowns hit the UK. 'Returning to the Moon' was co-curated by Dr Michael Warner, a private collector of NASA Apollo mission artefacts. The artefacts were shown alongside a selection of works by contemporary artists which reflected on events and themes of the cosmos.
Anthony White at the Rodd was developed to announce a new partnership with The Sidney Nolan Trust. Represented artist Anthony White exhibited work throughout a 17th century manor home formerly owned by the late Australian artist, Sidney Nolan. White's works were digitally imposed throughout the rooms of the property. The exhibition was organised in support of the Trust and a postponed residency for the artist with the National Library of Australia where the artist intended to research the Eureka Stockade Mural, completed by Sidney Nolan.
An exhibition hosted in collaboration with Henley's River and Rowing Museum, saw British photographer Adrian Houston's 'Spirit of Nature' reflect on the world through moments of deep affinity with Henley's local bluebell woods.
British artist Andrew Lansley's solo exhibition featured works made after his 2018 trip to Antarctica with Cambridge University's Scott Polar Research Institute as the artist in residence. A timely portrayal of the beauty that landscape holds and the importance of its preservation.
'Garden' announced the debut solo exhibition of Chinese artist, Chen Ping in the UK. The exhibition witnessed a magical array of large dynamic paintings revelling in ancient Chinese mythology.
Kapwani Kiwanga
Tamara Dean
Meghann Riepenhoff
Odette England
Dafna Talmor
Siobhan McDonald
Brooke Holm
Peta Clancy
Rhiannon Adam
Katie Breckon
Virginia Woods-Jack
Katrin Koenning
Bringing together 12 female artists from around the world, the exhibition was co-curated by Virginia Woods-Jack and explored the concept of Mother Nature and how each of the artist's bond to their natural environments have contributed to shape their identity.
Forest + Found Rain Wu Brooke Holm Andrew Lansley Todd McMillan Anthony Hodgkinson Siobhan McDonald Anthony White Brian Grimwood Diane Chappalley Harriet Hellman
An online exhibition of works to celebrate a selection of artists that have exhibited and are to be introduced to the galleries programme.