Albert Tucker exhibition

Above: Geoffrey Smith delivering his opening remarks; Exhibition curator Ivan Durrant at the exhibition opening.

We are experiencing a surge in visitor numbers at present- all due to a very special exhibition of paintings by one of Australia's most important 20th century artists, Albert Tucker. The exhibition is titled 'The Intruder: The Perfect Allegory' and was originally curated by Ivan Durrant for Benalla Art Gallery. Most of the paintings are from the collection of Barbara Tucker, who has generously loaned these treasured paintings for the exhibition. Other important paintings have been loaned from the National Gallery of Victoria and Heide Museum of Modern Art.

The majority of the featured paintings are from the 1960s and were created by Albert Tucker following his return to Australia from Europe and are deeply informed by his immersion in the Australian bush after establishing a home in Hurstbridge in the early 1960s. The works feature haunting and conflicting images that explore the dangers of the Australian bush and the life and death struggles of explorers and other human intruders.

On Saturday 19 September at 2pm we were honoured to welcome Barbara Tucker and exhibition curator Ivan Durrant to Ararat for the exhibition opening. We were especially pleased that Geoffrey Smith, Director and National Head of Art, Bonhams and Goodman and former Curator of Australian Art at the National Gallery of Victoria was able to find the time to visit Ararat to formally open the exhibition. Geoffrey knows the work of Albert Tucker very well and his opening remarks provided a valuable context for those in attendance to better appreciate the exhibition.

Thank you to everyone who attended. It was a wonderful afternoon celebration amongst Gallery friends and supporters. Thanks especially to Off the Beaten Track Art and Wine Gallery / Mount Cole Wineworks for suporting the exhibition through providing their excellent wines at the opening.