Roland Hemmert

Landscape Artist Roland Hemmert will launch his latest solo exhibition 3 States at Tamworth’s Weswal Gallery on 12th February 2010.

Comprised of about 20 artworks 3 States spans the country around Central West & Outback NSW, The Northern Territory’s Red Centre and South Australia’s Flinders Ranges.

Most of the richly coloured pastels where done en plein air. But visually they are far removed from what that term would usually conjure. There is a vitality in Hemmert’s pastels and the rugged terrain of the MacDonnell & Flinders Ranges are imbued with a sense of place that is unmistakably Australian. Add to these the larger studio oils in which Hemmert explores and elaborates upon the themes within the pastels and you’ll get a sense of the artist as he moves through the landscape.

For Hemmert the main aim behind the Weswal exhibition is to present the variety of places he loves to paint. The artist also describes himself as an enthusiastic amateur when it comes to Aboriginal Rock Art and on his painting trips makes a point of visiting rock art sites. “For me it adds a whole other dimension to know that other people had lived in those areas” As with most journeys there are also traveller’s tales attached to many of the artworks on show During one particular painting trip in November 2008 he recounted how the Todd River in Alice Springs flowed twice “I was 150 km west out of Alice one day and almost got stranded. Every muscle was tensed while I was driving. I tell you, you can’t turn your back on that country for a second ! And frankly why would you. It’s a harsh, robust landscape that looks over it’s shoulder at you like a temptress. It’s seductive, and who doesn’t like being seduced. I come alive out there and hopefully that comes out in my work”

3 States will be Hemmert’s first solo exhibition in the New England Region. His most recent and highly successful solo was in June 2009 in the Southern Highlands. His artworks have also been featured in World Literature Today to illustrate an essay by prize winning poet Mark Tredinnick. Roland is also a founding member of Kangaloon a creative fellowship of academics & artists concerned with the issues of the environment & our warming climate. Roland Hemmert has resided in the Blue Mountains for the past 15 years, but “not for any grand artistic vision” he says “ it’s just a place I’ve happened to land and I love to be surrounded by trees. ”