sabbia gallery

Ceramics, Glass + Fibre

Main Gallery   6 - 30 March 2024

Alfred Lowe – The Gathering

Sabbia is pleased to present Alfred Lowe’s first Sydney solo exhibition with an extraordinary body of work by this wonderful new talent. Alfred Lowe is an Arrernte person from Snake Well in the Central Desert, north of Alice Springs. Alfred grew up in Alice Springs and completed his schooling there, moving to Adelaide in 2014 to pursue university studies. Alfred still resides in Adelaide and started making ceramics in early 2021. He now practices daily at the APY Studio in Adelaide. Alfred uses clay and ceramics to explore themes of Country using form and texture informed by his intimate knowledge of the Central Desert landscape. He hand builds forms, creating organic vessels, and applies underglazes and a range of mark-making to the surface. Alfred’s interest in fine arts is heavily influenced and inspired by his upbringing. For a period growing up, Alfred’s neighbour was Clifford Possum, and he recalls standing on truck tyres to peer over the fence and watch Clifford paint for hours at a time. He also lived opposite Araluen Arts and Cultural Precinct and spent a significant amount of time there as a child/teen. Central Australia is a politically and racially charged region and this has fuelled Alfred’s keen interest in politics and racial justice. In his work, Alfred explores his relationship with Country as well as his life as a First Nations person living today. His works examine how culture and identity are navigated in modern times and as an early career artist is constantly examining how these influences and experiences are reflected in his artistic practice. Flat footed, strength at the core with a posture of defiance these works continue my exploration of identity, culture and connection to country as a First Nations artist. Bright, colourful, and fun, these works hold an undeniable presence in a room. A presence that rejects expectations, ignores preconceptions and embraces a provocative sense of rebellion. These works are here for The Gathering. Alfred Lowe, 2024

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Gallery Two   6 - 30 March 2024

Giles Bettison – Tunkalilla, Renewed Connection

Sabbia Gallery is thrilled to present this solo exhibition of new work by South Australian glass artist Giles Bettison. My very early glasswork was informed by the landscape around the family farm at Kapunda in SA. This evolved into to broader landscape inspired work throughout my career. My return to Australia in 2019 and reconnection to Tunkalilla has inspired this current body of work. Looking at and engaging with the environment and landscape at Tunkalilla is growing my understanding and connection to this place. In this body of work I am exploring the pattern, rhythms and colours that I experience at Tunkalilla. I used sketches andphotographs from Late Summer, Autumn and Winter of 2023 as a starting point. I have made works in the Vista and Tunkalilla series using this information. At Tunkalilla we often walk along the beach collecting shells, seaweed and other things that get washed in by the ocean. I have looked at the drawings of Ernst Haeckel. Haeckel studied anatomy and physiology, particularly Radiolarians, microscopic plankton and other sea creatures. He would record what he saw under his microscope with drawings. In 2008 I began a series of work based on lace textiles. As I developed the patterns for this work I began to notice a resemblance to microscopic cellular forms. Once I became aware of the drawings of Ernst Haeckel I have been imagining microscopic forms and realising them with glass murrini. From the Haeckel drawings and the material I have collected from the beach I have created imagined microbiological forms in the Cell series. We are currently working on revegetating land at Tunkalilla with local indigenous trees and understory. There is local wildlife including eagles, hawks, plovers, kangaroos, echidnas, native rats and mice and plenty of snakes and lizards. We are aiming to plant 6000 trees over the next few years. Working with the land to repair damage caused by clearing and understanding the human, animal and geological history is important to me and my family. It helps me feel a sense of place and connected. Giles Bettison, 2024

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