Perth Galleries 30 May - 22 June 2008

Sydney artist Constantine Nicholas, a veteran of over 22 solo and numerous group exhibitions across Australia and overseas, will show a new body of work featuring cloud formations at Perth Galleries in North Fremantle from 29th May.

In the new series of works, titled 'White Cloud Story', Nicholas creates wild and imaginary paintings showing the movement of clouds across rich coloured skies.  Under thick, fluid layers of paint and varnish the new paintings partially reveal writing and road maps of familiar places and suburbs. Nicholas is renowned for using historical images and rich varnishes in his work to examine the early histories of Australia and the South Pacific.

Nicholas says, "An ongoing theme in my work is to use maps and illustrations to present a place in time or a reference point that I can respond to. My usual reaction is to alter or blot out the references with heaps of paint and layers of varnish, to diminish what they represent - sometimes to the extent of losing the images altogether".

Each work has a faint horizon line at the bottom of the canvas, stating the location and time of the day, giving you something further to consider.

"Besides making these works look topographical (i.e. clouds floating over terrain), my aim was to create an immense depth of field, so you can read the work from a distance; as you would by looking at the horizon line in the desert or over the ocean," Nicholas said.

The exhibition opens on 30 May (at 6pm) and runs till 22 June. Visit Perth Galleries at 92 Stirling Highway, North Fremantle.

About Constantine Nicholas
Constantine Nicholas has exhibited nationally and internationally. His work can be found in many noted collections and institutions in Australia and overseas, including The Art Gallery of Western Australia, Australian National University, The Kerry Stokes Collection and BHP Billiton. His works have been selected for major art prizes and awards include Australia Council's - New York studio and The Gunnery Studio in Sydney. Major commissions include the millennium mural for Kerry Stokes and Singapore's Suntec City Towers.