Collection Focus: Sight and sound

Her visual dynamics combine the primitive throb of the jungle drums with the sophisticated broken rhythms of modern jazz.
Art critic Michael Richards on the work of Irene Amos

Rarely do artists live in isolation. Often while creating works of art, they listen to music: classical, jazz, rock, blues. These sounds and rhythms to varying degrees seep into the artist’s oeuvre.

Jazz inspired the work of David Aspden, whereas Scott Redfordwas inspired by rock and roll. He acknowledged this inspiration in the title of his 1991 work Suspicious Minds by the Fine Young Cannibals and/or Losing my Religion by REM, now in the collection of Gold Coast City Gallery.

In many cases, visual artists have a musical background. Archibald Prize winner William Robinson is an accomplished pianist, performing as a state finalist in the 1957 ABC Concerto and Vocal Competition. Similarly, Asher Bilu was a violinist before making the decision to be a visual artist. Reg Mombassa, a founding member of the hit 1980s band Mental As Anything, is equally recognised for his visual talent through his iconic designs for the surf and street clothing brand Mambo.

The work of Amos, Robinson, Bilu, Aspden, Redford and Mombassa will be showcased alongside other gems from the Gold Coast City Gallery collection in Sight and Sound, highlighting the connections between art and music.