Niagara Galleries, Richmond, VIC - Gallery news: Niagara At Kiaf11 / Yvonne Kendall Exhibition / Deakin Small Sculpture Award / Song Ling

Niagara At Kiaf11 / Yvonne Kendall Exhibition / Deakin Small Sculpture Award / Song Ling

Song Ling

Niagara at KIAF11

Niagara Galleries attended Korea International Art Fair for the third consecutive year in 2011. KIAF attracts 60,000 visitors over a four day period and a lot of interest was expressed in Rick Amor, Paul Boston, Angela Brennan, Noel McKenna, Neil Taylor, Savanhdary Vongpoothorn and Ken Whisson. A major Whisson work was acquired by an important Korean collection at the fair. We certainly respect the quality and integrity of the Korean art market and hope to build on the relationships we have already established with international collectors and galleries and the Korean art community.

Yvonne Kendall exhibitionYvonne Kendall exhibition in Germany

Sculptor Yvonne Kendall has recently exhibited a new body of work at Flottmann-Hallen, a public museum in Herne, Germany. It was a collaboration with artist-partner Henning Eichinger with whom Kendall has often exhibited. The works are truly beautiful and evocative.

A catalogue has been produced to document this major exhibition. Limited copies will be available through the gallery. We eagerly await Yvonne's exhibition in August 2012.

Deakin Small Sculpture Award

Niagara's artists are well-represented in the Deakin University Contemporary Small Sculpture Award, currently showing at the Deakin University Art Gallery, Burwood campus. Harry Dixon Mptyane, Jennifer Joseph, Robert Bridgewater and Yvonne Kendall are all finalists. Congratulations to Stephen Bird for his winning entry in 2011. This small sculpture award is now in it's third year. The inaugural winner was our own Stephen Benwell in 2009.

Song Ling

Song Ling re-emerged on the art scene in 2006 after an eight year hiatus. At the time, most people were content to be seduced by the fabulous imagery and colour of his Lichtenstein-like canvases, however, those who delved deeper into Song Ling's background were aware of his importance as a contemporary artist in China in the 1980s. A key member of the New Wave art movement, Song Ling disappeared from the Chinese art scene when he moved to Australia in 1988.

Recently, three important works from his New Wave period appeared on the asian market at Sotheby's Hong Kong. The significance of these works was not underestimated by Sotheby's and heavy promotion of the paintings rewarded them with top prices. The largest of the three works, Meaningless choice? no. 1, 1986, ink on paper, one from a set of six, achieved 2,420,000HKD ($AU 275,000) against an expected range of 600,000 - 800,000 Hong Kong dollars.

We understand that all three works were purchased by a major private collector who specialises in early contemporary Chinese art and intends on building a museum to house his collection.

Whilst the artist recognises that these works have a particular historical significance, we think that it is only a matter of time before Song Ling's current works are being "noticed" by the asian market also.

Song Ling's entry in the 2011 Archibald Prize is currently touring regional Australia until April 2012.

Don't forget to find time to come and see the current exhibitions by Neil Taylor and Savanhdary Vongpoothorn. Of course they can be viewed online, but given the 3D nature of both exhibitions, if you are lucky enough to be in Melbourne, the live experience is all the more rewarding. Both shows run until 26 November 2011.

Niagara Galleries
245 Punt Road
Richmond
Melbourne 3121

For a complete list of works, or to arrange private viewing
please contact the gallery by email or phone 03 9429 3666

Gallery opening hours
Tuesday - Saturday 11am - 6pm
Evenings by appointment

For more information please visit our website:
www.niagara-galleries.com.au

Image:
Song Ling
My name is Fartunate - self portrait, 2011
acrylic on canvas
198 x 198cm