Suntrap by Hamilton Darroch at the Canberra Gallery

By Benjamen Judd

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In his latest exhibition at the Canberra Gallery and Museum, Suntrap, artist and sculptor Hamilton Darroch captures the Australian landscape not through direct representation, but instead by showing us the ways that we are filling it with our excess.

The Australian landscape has capture the imaginations of artists and poets from all over the world. And for good reason – the raw austerity of its deserts and bushlands, the unique collection of fauna and flora and the contrasting richness of the colour palette are all awe inspiring.

Hamilton Darroch’s sculptures have been created using objects long exposed to the elements in the Australian landscape in combination with colour harmonies and geometric patterns.

The centrepiece of the exhibition is the eponymously titled Suntrap, a 2.5 metre, brilliantly coloured sculpture created from 40 vintage rabbit traps. For some time Darroch has been responding to the work of Sidney Nolan and this exhibition includes a work informed by one of CMAG’s Sidney Nolan paintings.

Sun Trap by Hamilton Darroch is showing now at the Canberra Gallery and Museum. Final day is June 8.