The Good – Anna Louise Richardson
Published on 21 November 2024
CURATED BY RACHEL ARNDT AND DR LEE-ANNE HALL
EXHIBITION: November 22 – January 18 2025
OPENING: 6pm Friday November 22
Manning Regional Art Gallery is pleased to present The Good - a major new solo exhibition by Western Australian artist Anna Louise Richardson whose practice is centred around rural life, embedded in the experience and drama of everyday reality. Working primarily in large scale drawing, Richardson’s work renders realistic scenes that speak strongly to her experience of rural life as a member of a multi-generational farming family.
The Good emerges from Richardson’s broader investigations into the complex relationships between humans and the natural world, tinged by grief and the competing demands of nurturing new life. In a world increasingly defined by division and hardship, Richardson’s work points to the necessary act of radical optimism needed to seek goodness in all things.
Artist Anna Louise Richardson says: “My work is autobiographical, chronicling my life through the objects around me, objects that are steeped in meaning and memory, yet are present in many peoples realities. The scale of my drawings bring their stories to life. I hope that The Good will bring something familiar to regional audiences nationwide and spark a connection between my life and theirs. Together we can see the good in all things.”
Curators Rachel Arndt and Lee-Anne Hall explain: “The Good is the culmination of Western Australian artist Anna Louise Richardson’s explorations into her layered relationships with the natural world, coloured by love, loss and the complexities of nurturing new life as a young mother, while living on her family’s multi-generational farm on Whadjuk Nyoongar Boodja (Country).
As co-curators in this project we’re delighted to be able to present this work to audiences in Somerset and nationwide. Richardson’s work has incredible resonances to communities across the country, many who have experienced prolonged periods of hardship. The Good is both catalyst and opportunity for audiences across the country to explore what the ‘good’ means within the lives of individuals, families and communities.”
With the majority of works commissioned for this touring exhibition in 2023, visiting MANNING REGIONAL ART GALLERY to see these new artworks is an unmissable opportunity.
Director, Rachel Piercy says “we are privileged to be able to bring this thoughtful, insightful exhibition to our region. The themes and concepts of The Good will resonate with many in our rural community.”
PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
For more information on public programs, please visit the Gallery website: https://mrag.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/Home
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Anna Louise Richardson
b.1992 Boorloo I Perth, lives and works Mundijong, WA
AnnaLouise Richardson is an Australian artist living and working on Whadjuk Nyoongar Boodja in the Peel Region. Richardson’s practice centres around drawing, rendering realistic scenes that speak strongly to her experience of rural life as a member of a multigenerational farming family. Her works explore parenthood, familial relationship, intergenerational exchange, settler identity, relationship to place as well as regionally specific mythologies.
ABOUT THE TOUR
The Good has been curated by Rachel Arndt and Dr Lee-Anne Hall for The Condensery | Somerset Regional Art Gallery, QLD and Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, NSW. Museums & Galleries of NSW is touring the exhibition to 11 galleries across 4 states between 2023 – 2026, with support from the Australia Council for the Arts.
ARTIST, CURATORS AND DIRECTOR, RACHEL PIERCY, ARE AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW
Image 1: Anna Louise Richardson, Good egg, 2023, charcoal on cement fibreboard, 50 x 37 cm. Photo: Bo Wong
Image 2: Anna Louise Richardson in her studio. Photo: Bo Wong
Curated by Rachel Arndt & Dr Lee-Anne Hall. A Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, The Condensery and Museums & Galleries of NSW touring exhibition. This project was made possible by the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, which supports the arts in regional and remote Australia and the Government of Western Australia through the Department, Culture and the Arts (WA). This project has been assisted through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body.
