‘Walk with Me’ is the artist’s soul laid bare across the undulating landscape of the mind’s eye. With up to 60 works including drawings, paintings and panoramas in this body of work, all pieces stand-alone yet work in perfect harmony together to represent the unbreakable ties that bind artist to eco-system in this landmark exhibition. Physical topographies ebb and flow from Stewart’s well of natural wonder, a world in which he lives and breathes his surrounds through an artist’s brush.
This vibrant collection of new paintings from Stewart feature three distinct feelings; The wildness of the back beaches between Flinders and Cape Schanck; The shape, texture and colour of the hinterland; And the space, silence and calm of Westernport.
CALM: Westernport Panorama Series
Here is where the silence grows from coastline to horizon and the world stands still. From Flinders West Head, between Flinders and Shoreham, Point Leo and Merricks, Merricks and Balnarring, Shoreham, Somers and Sandy Point, Western Port bows down graciously to its timelessness via pencil and paper, oil paint and brush.
Stewart Westle’s Western Port walks captured on paper and canvas, tell secrets of space and spirit, calmness, and endurance of place. These works reveal themselves slowly, rise up and over your soul with a whisper of what could be. The paint sighs. The landscape inhales and exhales through light. The sky envelopes. Liberty becomes everything while drifting from one painting to the next as the delicate beauty of the region reveals itself through a dedicated artist’s discreet palate. Here less is more and it’s time to explore.
WILD: Flinders to Cape Schanck Back Beach Series
Here is where the ocean roars as the saltwater giants call out to the rocky outcrops lunging and lowering themselves into the sea. Hypnotic energy emanates from the artist’s canvas in this mystical series of works which follow the coastline from Flinders to Cape Schanck. Ragged outcrops jut and recede. Distance and proximity combine with luscious curves morphing into deep pools of destiny. Translucent colour takes hold and throws caution into the wild coastal wind.
Stewart’s wanderings along the ‘edge of the world’ speak of the generosity and transformative capabilities of shadow and light, depth, width, and height, what has gone before and what is yet to be envisioned. A celebration of the world turning, these walks along the deities of eternity, exemplify the humbling recognition of serendipitous insignificance. Here you are known, yet unknown and the balance is evolutionary.
CLOSE TO HOME: Peninsula Hinterland Series
Here, close to home, the land speaks of potent magic. Stewart’s 40-year connection to the hinterland on the Mornington Peninsula, where the bush brings invigoration, inspiration and primal connectivity, results in paintings radiating with sound and movement. Here the painter’s heart is poured vibrantly into the canvas where invisible birds sing as vegetation bends and stretches, and the land undulates and seduces with masterly mediative capabilities. Emotion is raw to the core.
This series created from walks in Stewart’s own ‘backyard’ in Red Hill and surrounds is profound. Colour is vivacious, while shape and texture boldly dictate the joyous activity that is the Australian bush. Magnification and expanse juxtapose. Port Phillip calls. Every beach is the artist’s beach. Every canvas creates scenes within scenes and iridescent reflections on the impossibility of living anywhere else. Here the self settles into timeless tranquillity.
Opening Weekend Saturday, March 20th & Sunday, March 21st from 11am - 4pm
Manyung Gallery Art & Design
6/35 Progress Street, MORNINGTON
Stewart will be holding floortalks on both days at 2pm.
Over 50 original artworks on display.
For all artwork and exhibition enquiries, please contact Sharyn
sharyn@manyunggallery.com.au
0419 595 222
View virtual exhibition & available works HERE!