Articles - 2 December 2004

Alan Watt - One + One = 7

It is fitting that an artist who is a local Tanja resident and with a long association with Narek Galleries, should be represented in the first exhition in the newly renovated old Tanja Church space. This opening exhibition presents recenly completed works by Alan Watt, Head of Ceramics at the School of Art, Australian National University, from 1979 to 1998. Titled One + One = 7 this seemingly obscure title alludes to that long association and indicates the seventh shared major event between Alan Watt and Narek Galleries.

From a solo show at Cuppacumbalong in 1977, Narek Galleries staged two further solo shows in association with the Canberra National Sculpture Forum, followed by the Composite of Opposites exhibition at the ANU Drill Hall Gallery as well as two representations at the exposition SOFA Chicago.

Alan Watt is internationally known for his sculptural ceramics describing man's manipulation of the landscape, with one of the most recent, outstanding works in in the collection of the National Gallery of Australia.

From the early 1990s Alan's interest in metals has resulted in wall panels incorporating ceramic and found metals, which continue to reflect his interest in man's impact in the landscape. His growing curiosity about discarded metal shapes, their origin in early machinery and farm equipment, culminated in a beautiful gate commissioned for the Tanja school centenary. This exhibition will include works in ceramic, metal and conjunctions of both.

One + One = 7 is showing at Narek Galleries until 17 January, 2005.