contemporaryartalbanywa

Encylopedias re-imagined

| Nat Rad

“Bound and Unbound” – Museum of the Great Southern 5-26 January 2026

https://visit.museum.wa.gov.au/greatsouthern/bound-unbound-encyclopedias-re-imagined

What can you do with a set of 1962 Encyclopedia Britannica? Give them to artists!

“1962 seed of knowledge”

Vol 4 Brain – Casing 1962 Encyclopedia, wind fall collected Bushy Yate – Eucalyptus conferruminate seed pod.

I was born in 1969. In my lifetime I have experienced the ‘discovery’ and wonder of the Great Southern’s flora and fauna. Of course this is not new to First Nations people, who continue to build on their connection to country to this day.

The Maple leaf shape represents immigration, embedded with a unique seed pod of the Great Southern into a book of knowledge with the title “Brain”.

“1962 vol 17”

Vol 17 P-Plant 1962 Encyclopedia, red silk hand twisted thread, water colour paint.

Knowledge is absorbed in many ways. I prefer visual learning and tactile experiences. With some fun added!

The ‘beads’ are made of ‘P’ words I enjoy from volume 17, threaded with red silk. A necklace of words starting with P.

A4 works for MIX Artists (At top of page)

In 1962 the Albany Cottage Hospital, on the site of the Vancouver Arts Centre, closed and a new larger hospital opened in Spencer Park. This is the same year of the Encyclopedia’s offered to artists. While the new Albany hospital wasn’t entered into the volumes I was offered, the  connection to the medical information I found has produced A4 works exploring this important event in Albany’s history.

Littoral exhibition

| Nat Rad

Nat works in oil on canvas and linen and uses masking tape to cover both vertical and horizontal areas between layers of paint, revealing the previous layer when removed.

Theo uses acrylic on canvas and canvas paper and constructs the landscape with defined horizons while playing with the vertical structure of water lines within the compositions.

Paintings of the nearshore

| Nat Rad

Littoral is a joint exhibition by Albany artists Nat Rad and Theo, marking the first time they have presented their work together after participating in numerous group exhibitions. The inspiration for this collaboration arose from independent creative research, which revealed a shared interest in the concept of the ‘nearshore.’ Through their individual artistic practices, both artists ventured out to document the area surrounding Menang Koort (King George Sound) on the Albany coast, focusing on the unique shapes, colors, and movements found within these landscapes.

New work!

| Nat Rad

Working towards an exhibition- Nov 2025

Moving focus to paint, I am working on a body of work with Theo for the Parry Gallery exhibition at the Historic Whaling Station. About halfway through production now!

Voidscape 2

| Nat Rad

Exploring compositions to reveal the landscape, I began with video work in 2023.

The subject is a landscape area of boulders on the north side of MT Clarence, Albany. The composition investigates the identity of this space through transparency and overlay of site images. Revealing the landscape’s features, including the ‘unseen spaces’, voids.

The second installment for 2025 of ‘Voidscape’ brings together video, soundscape and oil on canvas paintings, connecting the forms of the landscape through all media.

The term “Voidscape” is derived from digital creation and refers to other worlds outside of physical representation.

Unplugged 2

| Nat Rad

After a successful MIX Unplugged 2024, we’re returning with another theme-free exhibition. The Museum of the Great Southern will host MIX Artists Inc in a pop-up gallery. Artists will rotate times, ensuring fresh artwork throughout the event. Visit again to see new pieces from different artists!

100 Chawan: completed soundscape

| Nat Rad

The soundscape for the 100 Chawan exhibition is a compilation of 6 parts, representing elements identified by Linda Chambers and Collyn Gawned as significant to their art practice.

Being invited to create a soundscape and directed by Linda and Collyn‘s strong vision for the completed ceramic works to be underpinned by the ‘feel’ of the exhibition space, I began with recording in their studios.

  • Introduction: Chanting, Frogs, water and Night Chitty Chitty
  • Linda Making: electric potters wheel recorded in her home studio
  • Tea: preparing to make tea, chanting and whisking matcha
  • Travels in Japan: Hiroshima peace bell, poring tea and Osaka train station
  • Collyn Making: hand making a Chawan recorded in his home studio
  • Mediation on flow: Tapping on Chawan, waters of Lake St Clair, Torbay, Hopetoun and Ledge Point with breath