Ep 126: Del Kathryn Barton - 'the women who fell to earth'

One of Australia’s most significant artists returns to the podcast! Del Kathryn Barton spoke with me the day before the opening of her spectacular exhibition ‘the women who fell to earth’ at Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, showing until 28 May 2022.

Internationally renowned, Del is well known in Australia for having won the country’s most famous art prize twice – the Archibald Prize – and her works are held in many private collections and public institutions. This year the National Gallery of Australia acquired her largest single-panel work she has made to date, ‘my heart is blazing 11 hours’, and we talk about the work in this episode.

Although difficult to describe in words, Del’s work often depicts a female sensuality which is at the same time beautiful and confrontational – set in an intricately detailed imaginary world. She is also a self-described optimist and the work hanging in this exhibition is a testament to that, with vivid colour bursting from the canvas.

We also discuss other art forms she has recently been engaged in, including a major project she has been developing over the last 4 years which has now come to fruition. Del’s first feature film ‘Blaze’, a very personal work which she directed and co-wrote, is debuting at the Tribeca Film festival in June and it’s one of only 10 films selected in the International Narrative competition. It has also been selected for Official Competition in the upcoming Sydney film festival, again one of only ten films selected internationally.

You’ll also hear about the origins of her arresting timber sculptures included in the exhibition. Large shell forms inlaid with exquisite materials which reference very personal themes.

To hear the conversation press ‘play’ beneath the above feature photo. You can hear the previous 2019 podcast interview where Del talks about her life and art here.

Scroll down for a short video of highlights of this conversation and footage of the exhibition on the Talking With Painters YouTube channel.

Current exhibition

‘the women who fell to earth’ at Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney, 6 May to 28 May 2022
‘Blaze at the Tribeca Film Festival on 9, 10 and 17 June 2022
‘Blaze’ at the Sydney Film Festival, 17, 18 and 19 June 2022