A wet and dry fusion of science and art will enchant Brisbane when The University of Queensland’s School of Integrative Biology launches its inaugural Artist-in-Residence exhibition at Waterfront Place in Brisbane city in May.
The exhibition, titled Recording Landscapes, will feature a series of arid and rainforest landscapes captured by 2007 Artist-in-Residence Noel Miller while on field trips with ecology students at Idalia National Park in western Queensland and Lamington National Park in the Gold Coast hinterland.
Mr Miller won the Warwick Prize in 2006 and was a finalist in the Norvill Landscape Prize (2006). His work hangs in private collections throughout Australia as well as London and New York.
The artist works mainly in found ochres and natural pigments, mixing his own paints and painting directly on to canvas in a style known as "wet on wet” — where layers of paint are added while the underlying coat is still wet.
The Head of the School of Integrative Biology, Professor Scott O’Neill, said the initiative “seeks to bridge the divide between science and art by facilitating the interaction of UQ ecology students with an emerging local artist during their intensive field study program, and then sharing the experience with the community through an exhibition of the artist’s works.”
The School’s major strength in ecology and emphasis on field based scholarship takes researchers and science students to remote and beautiful parts of Australia to undertake scientific studies that contribute solutions to various environmental issues.
Recording Landscapes will run from May 2 until May 14 in the foyer of Waterfront Place, 1 Eagle Street Brisbane city. The artist will discuss his work with the public on May 6 and 13 at 12.30pm.
Media enquiries:
Head of School, Integrative Biology Professor Scott O’Neill: 07 3365 2471
2007 Artist-in-Residence Noel Miller: 07 3870 9375.
Images, Diana Lilley, 07 3365 2753
Noel Miller, artist
Noel Miller is best known for his charcoal works, and also works in oils, primarily painting landscapes. He is also a printmaker.
Much of the work for his new exhibition of 55 pieces is painted in found ochres, often from the site of his paintings, supplemented with natural pigments such as lapis lazuli. A series in this exhibition also features detail photos of his immediate environment, printed on to canvas and reworked with collage, with an etched, perspex overlay.
In 2004 Noel Miller was a finalist in two national prizes – The Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award and the Blake Prize.
He had two works hung in the 2005 Blake prize in Sydney. He was a finalist in the 2006 Norvill Prize for Landscape
Noel Miller won the 2006 Warwick Art Prize.
In 2007, he appeared in the ABC series "Painting Australia", with prominent landscape artist Mandy Martin.
He lectures on art and photography on a cruise ship in Antarctica for 3 months each year.
Residencies: 2005 : Artist in Residence at Redcliffe High School
2007/08: Inaugural Artist in Residence School of Integrated Biology, UQ
Acquisitions:
• Warwick Regional Gallery collection
• University of Queensland
• Noel Miller's work hangs in private collections in Australia, USA and England
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