AustLit

Title: Suddenly

Date of production: 2010

Synthetic polymer paint on plywood

Technique: Synthetic polymer painting

Catalogue raisonne: N/A

Dimensions: 140.0 x 120.0 x 2.5 cm

Inscriptions: Nil

Provenance:

Suddenly was reproduced courtesy of Gemma Smith and Milani Gallery in Brisbane and the work was purchased by the University of Queensland Art Museum in 2011.

Credit line: Purchased by the UQ Art Museum, 2011

Accession no: 2011.13

Copyright line: Usual copyrights

Gemma Smith’s Suddenly was reproduced by the artist herself and Milani Gallery, Brisbane in 2010 and was purchased by the University of Queensland Art Museum in 2011. The artwork was then exhibited as part of “New 2011: Selected Recent Acquisitions” at the UQ Art Museum in 2012.

With the measurement of 140.0 x 120.0 x 2.5 cm, Suddenly regard as one of the larger paintings in the collection of Collision and Improvisation exhibition at the Milani Gallery in 2010. True to Smith’s signature use of colourful palatte, the work employed clashes of cool and warm colours on white surface painted on plywood. Warmer colours yellow and brown are at the background supporting the light blue and navy paint in foreground. Away from the precise application of Smith’s previous works of geometric abstractions, Suddenly is a clear departure from her early work composed with spontaneous and confident brushstrokes over the picture plane forming swirls design.

Suddenly is very much a representation of transitional work from her early career. Smith’s determination of breaking the constraints of the two dimensionality of the canvas was developed through her early work such as Adaptable (lemon/turquoise) 2006, a dynamic sculpture made of plywood material after careful consideration so that it can be manipulated into different configurations. Gemma Smith’s adaptable sculptures were essential as an extension for developing the geometric abstracts such as Snarl-Up in 2008. Smith was able to create the optical illusion of three-dimensionality with the meticulous use of colours and shapes.

Transforming from her previous work of geometric abstractions, Smith’s Suddenly conformed to spontaneity and intuitive nature; the work harnessed the momentum of minimalism and gestural paintings. The soft lines relaxed from the rigid and explicit approach to her hard-edged paintings but the careful calculation of the composition of colours has the same systematic element of creating optical illusions on the picture plane. Smith is still exploring the spatial dynamics with the relations of colours and how that can subvert the flat picture plane (Gibson). The bold colour palette amplifies the effect within the work. The use of plywood as the base of Suddenly also resonates with her early work after experimenting with different materials; the exact thickness and hardness of aircraft plywood and polyester were found the most suitable for the manipulation of her sculptural works.

Prior to the Sudden Double exhibition at Sarah Cottier Gallery in early 2010, her work was focused on the mathematical elements of geometric design and hardedge colour abstractions. ‘I build up the colours and planes slowly. The paintings are very intuitive. Towards the end of the painting process, the work becomes more closed off and there are less possibilities, less directions for it to take’, the artist stated. By taking a different shapes in the transitional painting in Suddenly, the picture plane is not as closed off and limited thus transcending from her previous works of geometric abstractions and adaptable sculpture. Gemma Smith continues to apply her discipline with clean and fresh palatte and explorations of pictorial depth using colours and ambient light, Suddenly marks her progression as an artist.