Jasper Knight: Collage, prints and works on paper
Jasper Knight grew up in the suburbs surrounding Mosman. This close proximity to Sydney Harbour’s oversaturated light throughout his formative years can be seen in the works in this exhibition which feature vibrant, primary colours and exuberant brushwork.
Jasper Knight: collage, prints and works on paper celebrates over twenty years of artmaking using paper-based methods of image making. Jasper came to prominence with his use of found materials and enamel house paint, imbuing his landscapes with industrial aesthetics. Looking deeper at these works reveals an affection and reverence for these scenes, often documented as surety against rapid regentrification.
Known primarily as a painter and printmaker, this exhibition surveys the breadth of Jasper’s career with early sketches leading to the most recent painted works. Many of these are being exhibited for the first time, including a series of costume designs from 2011 for Opera Victoria’s production of How to Kill Your Husband (and other handy household hints) by Kathy Lette.
Throughout this exhibition Jasper generously shares insights into the making of his works. Two iconic prints, made with Michelle Perry from Marnling Press, are shown in process, breaking down the stages of printmaking. Many works are made with whatever materials are to hand, with several works being painted on corflute or cardboard boxes, as with the paintings of chairs that were in one of his first exhibitions. Revealing the range of Jasper’s practice is a series of assemblages formed from found materials which have been transformed into incredible creatures and construction machinery.
Jasper Knight has been connected to Mosman Art Gallery through the Mosman Art Prize, which has featured his paintings four times, culminating in his win in 2008. His work Spit Bridge Tower, 2015, forms part of the Mosman Art Collection through the Balnaves Gift, and features in the Mosman Art Trail at The Spit.
Curated by Kelly McDonald and Jasper Knight.
