Discover with Dr Norman Swan—
We invited physician and journalist Dr Norman Sawn to take a break from Coronacast to select highlights, and share insights, from Explore Sydney Contemporary, online from 11–21 November 2021.
"What [art] inspires me: a feeling of depth and complexity"
Norman hosts RN’s Health Report and since the COVID-19 pandemic hit our shores, has co-hosted Coronacast, a daily podcast on the coronavirus. Norman is also a reporter and commentator on ABC’s 7.30, Midday, News Breakfast and Four Corners shows and a guest host on RN Breakfast. He is a past winner of the Gold Walkley and has won other Walkleys including one in 2020. He created Invisible Enemies, on pandemics and civilisation for Channel 4 UK which has been broadcast in 27 countries. Norman was awarded the medal of the Australian Academy of Science and has an honorary MD from the University of Sydney.
Norman trained in medicine and paediatrics in Aberdeen, London and Sydney before joining the ABC.
"Semi abstract, modernist [art] is what usually attracts my eye. Can’t explain it much more than that."
Janet Laurence
Worlds That Disappear V, The Healing Flowers, 2020
duraclear on shinkolite acrylic, aluminium, oil pigment
100cm x 219cm x 10cm
AU$54,000 incl. GST
Presented by ARC ONE GALLERY
"This is a gorgeous piece that is both lyrical and as usual with Janet’s work, pointed at a vision of the environment that’s fragile."
Elefteria Vlavianos
Anatolian Blue #1, 2017
acrylic and raw pigments on canvas
152cm x 137cm
AU$8,900 incl. GST
Presented by .M Contemporary
"This work has depth, complexity and drama and the use of colour is extraordinary."
Julia Sirianni
Roadside Treasure, 2021
oil on linen
76cm x 101cm
AU$3,800 incl. GST
Presented by EDWINA CORLETTE
"From the distance this has a gestural and impressionistic feel which captures the landscape. Up close you see the precision of Julia’s adaptation of pointillism."
Erin Lawlor
Twilight Shapes (Entre Chien et Loup), 2020
oil on canvas
180cm x 260cm
AU$45,000 incl. GST
Presented by Fox Jensen
"This piece has amazing texture, sweeping gestures and complexity and although it has sombre tones, isn’t a sombre work."
Hiroshi Senju
Waterfall, 2018
acrylic and natural pigments on Japanese mulberry paper.
paper signed and inscribed “Waterfall, H. Senju, 2018” on reverse.
Provenance: Sundaram Tagore Gallery, Hong Kong; Private collection, Sydney.
130cm x 162cm
POA
Presented by Justin Miller Art
"Simply spectacular."
Ruth Ju-Shih Li
Set in Stone, 2021
black clay, pigment, porcelain, glaze, custom painted steel stand
23cm x 21.5cm x 17cm
AU$1,850 incl. GST
Presented by MAY SPACE Online
"The naturalistic curves and minimalistic petals draw you to this sculpture."
Graham Kuo
Shatter the Darkness #8, 2018
acrylic on paper
120cm x 80cm
AU$4,800 incl. GST
Presented by Michelle Perry Fine Arts
"This semi abstract gestural swirl reads to me like a Lautrec can can dancer."
Laura Jones
Wildflowers #1, 2021
unique monotype
76cm x 56cm
AU$3,600 incl. GST
Presented by Whaling Road Studio
"Wildflowers are never perfect. This still-life doesn’t seem still."
Michael Johnson,
Tiger Tiger in the Day, 2012
mixed media on paper
89 x 70.5 cm (frame)/77cm x 57cm
AU$12,500 incl. GST
Presented by Annette Larkin Fine Art