In episode 62 I spoke with senior curator Denise Mimmocchi about the late abstract expressionist artist Tony Tuckson and the exhibition ‘ Tuckson:the abstract sublime ‘ which is currently showing at the Art Gallery of NSW. The exhibition continues until 17 February 2019.
In this episode I look at a few of the paintings themselves with artist Aida Tomescu. I spoke with Aida about her own life and art in episode 33 where you can hear a great story of her arrival in Australia from communist Romania and her rise to becoming one of our most respected painters. She has won many awards including the Wynne prize, the Sulman prize and the Dobell prize and has exhibited in over 30 solo shows.
We talk about the paintings, paint, what the paint’s doing, guessing the intention of the artist and ponder on what effect it’s having on the viewer.
You don’t have to see the exhibition to appreciate these episodes but if you get a chance to go why not listen to it as you’re walking around? You’ll see I’ve marked at the top of this page the point where we speak about each work so you can see them in any order you like.
The book accompanying the exhibition, edited by curator Denise Mimmocchi, ‘Tuckson’ is widely available including from the Art Gallery of NSW bookshop.
Images are reproduced with the kind permission of the Art Gallery of NSW.
To hear the episode just press ‘play’ under the feature photo above.
Scroll down to also see a YouTube version of this episode with images
Here are the works we talk about in this episode
- 2:29 White lines (vertical) on ultramarine 1970 – 73 (room 4)
- 9:55 Yellow (room 3)
- 15:10 Untitled [Late Drawing No.19 ] (room 3)
- 20:20 Untitled [White Sketch] 1970 – 73 (room 3)
- 24:20 Swirl c1962 – 65 (room 2)
- 28:10 Untitled 1973 (room 4)
John Anthony Tuckson
White lines (vertical) on ultramarine (19701973)
diptych: styrene-based house paint, polyvinyl acetate and pigment on hardboard
213.5 x 244.6 cm board overall
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Gift of Annette Dupree 1976
© Estate of the artist. Licensed by Copyright Agency
Photo: AGNSW
John Anthony Tuckson
Yellow 19701973
synthetic polymer paint on composition board
(a-b) 213.5 x 244 cm overall
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased with funds donated by Loti Smorgon AO and Victor Smorgon AC, 2011
John Anthony Tuckson
Late drawing, no. 19 (TD 353) 19681973
charcoal on cartridge paper
228 x 76 cm
Collection of Watters Gallery
John Anthony Tuckson
No title [White sketch] circa 1973
synthetic polymer paint
213.5 x 91.5 cm
Collection: National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. Bequest of Lucy Swanton 1982
John Anthony Tuckson
Swirl circa 1962circa 1965
PVA on hardboard
122 x 182.2 cm
Private Collection, Sydney
John Anthony Tuckson
Untitled 1973
synthetic polymer paint and charcoal on hardboard
214 x 122.5 cm
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Art Gallery of New South Wales Foundation Purchase 2013
© The estate of the artist. Licensed by Copyright Agency
Photo: AGNSW
Dear Maria : thank you again for an incredible two interviews , as always Aida is erudite and wonderfully knowledgeable,voicing her way in and out of the Tuckson’s work.going again tomorrow 3rd time!! ,as Aida says: to find new misteries in the work. No Title (white sketch) brings to mind the wonderful works in the Rothko room at the Tate modern , that darker Masonite at the bottom and the white line just finishing short of the edge, containing all of the world within , like a portal , akin to Rothko’s masterpieces so little signifying so much! How lucky we are to keep looking at these extraordinary works now wonderfully informed and renewed by your interviews
Good luck with your podcast hope you are a finalist you are definitely a winner in my mind
Thankyou Ana! It is definitely worth seeing more than once and I found Aida’s commentary wonderful as well. Thanks for your support and lovely words about the podcast. Maria 🙂
Hi Maria such an informative podcast. I have been interested Tuckson for many years. I have now moved too far away to see the great art exhibitions in Sydney. Thank you for the tour. I hope you have many more planned. Also I am an admirer of Aida’s work and her insight into Tucksons work answered many questions for me.
Thanks Paula. Very glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for listening to the podcast! Maria 🙂