NOEL MCKENNA

an interior scene ladened with personal commentaries on the things and creatures that surround the artist such as cats; a replica of his own work Jumping off Pier hanging upon a wall; architectural references such as windowsills and birdhouses; ceramics pieces placed delicately on the shelf; all pointing to the many facets of Noel’s creative practice.

for thought, as does each ‘relic’ purposefully selected for this solo exhibition.

Noel has ridden a bicycle for much of his life and naturally, it has been the subject of many of his artworks. For this exhibition, the bicycle will be represented via a personal encounter with the author David Malouf. Other personal objects will be drawn directly from Noel’s family life, such as family photographs of his two boys Felix and Emile, the children’s teeth that Noel has collected and kept in a small bottle for over 30 years, and of course, there will be more conventional Noel McKenna artworks! Audrey + Decimus is one such work. Depicting

Cats I have known, an ink on paper work is a tender reflection in list form of some of the cats Noel has met during his lifetime. The list format of this work foregrounds Noel’s handwriting, which is a popular artistic device within his oeuvre. It’s also a clear marker of identity that we see reverberate across this entire exhibition Sleep my horse ……... 5 August 1956 which gives a glimpse into the artist Noel McKenna’s life, and confirms for us, once again, that he is anything but ordinary.

Maree Skene, Sleep my horse... 5 August 1956 Curatorial Assistant & Visitor Engagement Officer