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Attic is artistic heaven
Subiaco artist Regina Noakes,
pictured in her attic stuido, is preparing
for three exhibitions. "Pressure is good
for me," she said calmly, as she explained that she
was working into the early hours of each morning,
preparing for a new solo show at the Gomboc Gallery
in the Swan Valley. She is also preparing for a
joint exhibition with two US artists in New York in
October and an exhibition in the Palazzo Vecchio in
Florence in November. Her simple, bold,
but emotive iconic figures have a universal appeal
that has seen her work exhibited around Australia
and in New York, Chicago, London, Venice and
Florence. "The Italians love
my work," Regina said, explaining how as a trained
concert pianist, she had turned to painting when
she visited Capri in Italy as a young woman and
worked as an assistant to an art
professor. She married a
mathematician and over the years her husband's job
has taken them to Italy, Singapore and America. She
has successfully combined the travel with her own
art teachings and study. Her work combines a
traditional Romanesque influence with the flat,
large-eyed figures of Indian Mughal art. Born in Singapore
of Indian origin, Regina has lived in Subiaco since
1974. Her tiny attic is a haven from the busy lives
of three teenage children, a busy husband, two cats
and two dogs. One large, languorous cat, Boris,
lies up in the attic prepared to share cheese with
Regina as she puts on loud Italian music -not
classical because she finds her own criticism too
distracting - and waits for inspiration. She never worries
that she won't know what to paint and never does
preliminary drawings, painting her distinctive
figures straight on to the canvas. "I seem to be
painting a lot of water, fish and birds," she said
looking around at the canvases as if surprised by
these new inspirations. Her figures, mostly
women, were translations of memories and
observations, Regina said. Childhood experiences,
her own and her children's, and human interaction
-friends, lovers, parents and children, children
and their dolls - are her subjects. Regina's exhibition
of new works opens at the Gomboc Gallery, 50 James
Street, Middle Swan, on Sunday, August 24, and
continues until September 14. Gallery hours are
Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm. copyright © 1999 - 2002 Post Newspapers Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.
In the comfortably
untidy attic studio of her Subiaco home, artist
Regina Noakes puts the finishing touches to a large
body of new paintings.
-Sarah McNeill
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Exhibitions:
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Music:
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