Martin Gascoigne has written about the Earth series: "Earth is one of the four classical elements; Gascoigne dealt with all four—fire, earth, air and water—but particularly with air and atmosphere […] Unlike the 'air' works of the mid 1990s, the panels that make up Earth, 1999 are very physical, in keeping with their subject matter. Earth, 1999 has gravitas. The word returns us to an element that is basic, in keeping with Gascoigne's choice of the grid and the uncompromising wood."

Exhibition Dates: 22 April – 22 May 2004

This exhibition at Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery presents Rosalie Gascoigne's series Earth, 1999 as well as selected works ranging from the last twenty years of the artist's life. All works in the exhibition are from the Gascoigne Estate. Earth, 1999 was the last series Gascoigne made before she died.

Martin Gascoigne has written about the Earth series: "Earth is one of the four classical elements; Gascoigne dealt with all four—fire, earth, air and water—but particularly with air and atmosphere […] Unlike the 'air' works of the mid 1990s, the panels that make up Earth, 1999 are very physical, in keeping with their subject matter. Earth, 1999 has gravitas. The word returns us to an element that is basic, in keeping with Gascoigne's choice of the grid and the uncompromising wood."

Rosalie Gascoigne used to say, "Art doesn't come from nowhere, it comes from a long line of human experience, and I like to think that I can pare things down to conform with a sort of classicism."

"From living in and roaming the country, the idea of Earth allowed scope for all sorts of recollections: ploughed fields; country roads, highway cuttings, cattle yards, muddy river banks, silted estuaries, mine tailings and quarries. There were the views from the air as she travelled to Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, and when she got there the old buildings with their great masonry foundations as well as the excavations for urban renewal. Rounded river stones, pebbles on the beach and dry stone walls all had a part in her life. From her gardening and her farming sister she knew about soil types—loam, clay, sand—and its productivity—fecund or barren. And its role in the cycle of life, death and renewal." (Martin Gascoigne, 2004)

The selected works in the small gallery represent Gascoigne's assemblages from the early 1980s through to 1997. The three-dimensional wall pieces are constructed from weathered plyboards, printed metal, torn linoleum, scallop shells and corrugated iron, and display the impressive range of the artist's practice. These configurations invite the contemplation of landscape, space and air through the most humble found materials that were once part of the landscape itself.

Rosalie Gascoigne is one of Australia's most respected contemporary artists. She first exhibited her art in 1974 at the age of 57. Her career spanned 25 years during which time her work was exhibited widely both in Australia and internationally until her death in 1999. Four years after her first exhibition, she was the subject of a major survey exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria, and four years after that she was chosen the represent Australia at the 1982 Venice Biennale. Her works are held in most public collections in Australia including the National Gallery of Australia, New Parliament House, Art Gallery of New South Wales, National Gallery of Victoria, Queensland Art Gallery, Art Gallery of Western Australia, Art Gallery of South Australia, National Art Gallery, Wellington, New Zealand as well as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York and numerous corporate and private collections. A major retrospective of Gascoigne's work is currently showing at the Wellington City Gallery until 16th May 2004. Gascoigne first exhibited with Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery in 1989. This is her seventh exhibition with the gallery.

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Rosalie Gascoigne Earth 1, 1999; sawn builders form-board; 118 x 107 cm; The series comprises ten panels; enquire
Earth 1, 1999
sawn builders form-board
118 x 107 cm; The series comprises ten panels
Rosalie Gascoigne Earth 2, 1999; sawn builders form-board; 117 x 95 cm; The series comprises ten panels; enquire
Earth 2, 1999
sawn builders form-board
117 x 95 cm; The series comprises ten panels
Rosalie Gascoigne Earth 3, 1999; sawn builders form-board; 113 x 88.5 cm; The series comprises ten panels; enquire
Earth 3, 1999
sawn builders form-board
113 x 88.5 cm; The series comprises ten panels
Rosalie Gascoigne Earth 4, 1999; sawn builders form-board; 126 x 102 cm; The series comprises ten panels; enquire
Earth 4, 1999
sawn builders form-board
126 x 102 cm; The series comprises ten panels
Rosalie Gascoigne Earth 5, 1999; The series comprises ten panels; 106.5 x 97.5 cm; enquire
Earth 5, 1999
The series comprises ten panels
106.5 x 97.5 cm
Rosalie Gascoigne Earth 6, 1999; sawn builders form-board; 135 x 132.5 cm; The series comprises ten panels; enquire
Earth 6, 1999
sawn builders form-board
135 x 132.5 cm; The series comprises ten panels
Rosalie Gascoigne Earth 7, 1999; sawn builders form-board; 112 x 132.5 cm; The series comprises ten panels; enquire
Earth 7, 1999
sawn builders form-board
112 x 132.5 cm; The series comprises ten panels
Rosalie Gascoigne Earth 8, 1999; sawn builders form-board; 107 x 97 cm; The series comprises ten panels; enquire
Earth 8, 1999
sawn builders form-board
107 x 97 cm; The series comprises ten panels
Rosalie Gascoigne Earth 9, 1999; sawn builders form-board; 152 x 104.5 cm; The series comprises ten panels; enquire
Earth 9, 1999
sawn builders form-board
152 x 104.5 cm; The series comprises ten panels
Rosalie Gascoigne Earth 10, 1999; sawn builders form-board; 100 x 85 cm; The series comprises ten panels; enquire
Earth 10, 1999
sawn builders form-board
100 x 85 cm; The series comprises ten panels
Rosalie Gascoigne Untitled (12 squares of 6), 1980-81; sawn weathered wood; 90 x 119.5 cm; enquire
Untitled (12 squares of 6), 1980-81
sawn weathered wood
90 x 119.5 cm
Rosalie Gascoigne Archipelago, 1993; torn linoleum on treated masonite; 5 panels, each 31.5 x 50 cm; enquire
Archipelago, 1993
torn linoleum on treated masonite
5 panels, each 31.5 x 50 cm
Rosalie Gascoigne Untitled (25 scallop shells), 1984; 55 x 56.5 x 7 cm; enquire
Untitled (25 scallop shells), 1984
55 x 56.5 x 7 cm
Rosalie Gascoigne Poplars, 19, 1996-97; linoleum on painted wood with retro-reflective strip; 60 x 62 cm; enquire
Poplars, 19, 1996-97
linoleum on painted wood with retro-reflective strip
60 x 62 cm
Rosalie Gascoigne Hollyhocks, 1997; corrugated iron strips on weathered board; 75 x 90 cm; 2 panels; enquire
Hollyhocks, 1997
corrugated iron strips on weathered board
75 x 90 cm; 2 panels
Rosalie Gascoigne Untitled (three landscapes), 1993-95; Formboard and painted wood; 3 pieces: 23 x 70; 18.5 x 62; 16 x 61 cm; Depth 6 cm; enquire
Untitled (three landscapes), 1993-95
Formboard and painted wood
3 pieces: 23 x 70; 18.5 x 62; 16 x 61 cm; Depth 6 cm
Rosalie Gascoigne Tribal, 1996; Black and white painted wood (from cable drums); 75.2 x 47.5 x 2.3 cm; enquire
Tribal, 1996
Black and white painted wood (from cable drums)
75.2 x 47.5 x 2.3 cm
Rosalie Gascoigne Pink Kookaburras, 1984; weathered wood with printed hessian; 85.3 x 45 x 7 cm; enquire
Pink Kookaburras, 1984
weathered wood with printed hessian
85.3 x 45 x 7 cm
Rosalie Gascoigne Tidal, 1997; painted wood (from cable drums) on painted plywood; 45 x 56 cm; enquire
Tidal, 1997
painted wood (from cable drums) on painted plywood
45 x 56 cm
Rosalie Gascoigne Untitled (pink off cuts), 1993-94; painted wood with weathered plywood; 61 x 51.5 x 4 cm; enquire
Untitled (pink off cuts), 1993-94
painted wood with weathered plywood
61 x 51.5 x 4 cm
Rosalie Gascoigne Untitled (white cloud), 1993-95; torn painted masonite on painted weathered wood; 30 x 45.5 x 3.5 cm; enquire
Untitled (white cloud), 1993-95
torn painted masonite on painted weathered wood
30 x 45.5 x 3.5 cm
Rosalie Gascoigne Untitled (chart), 1992-93; Torn linoleum on plywood; 40.5 x 42.5 x 2 cm; enquire
Untitled (chart), 1992-93
Torn linoleum on plywood
40.5 x 42.5 x 2 cm
Rosalie Gascoigne Untitled (two linoleum tesserae), 1994-95; linoleum on plywood; 2 panels: 23 x 16.5 x 1.5 cm, overall dimensions 23 x 35 x 1.5 cm; enquire
Untitled (two linoleum tesserae), 1994-95
linoleum on plywood
2 panels: 23 x 16.5 x 1.5 cm, overall dimensions 23 x 35 x 1.5 cm
Rosalie Gascoigne Untitled (four linoleum tesserae), 1994-95; linoleum on plywood; 4 panels: each 20.5 x 15 x 1.5 cm, overall dimensions 20.5 x 65.5 x 1.5 cm; enquire
Untitled (four linoleum tesserae), 1994-95
linoleum on plywood
4 panels: each 20.5 x 15 x 1.5 cm, overall dimensions 20.5 x 65.5 x 1.5 cm
Rosalie Gascoigne Untitled (12 bunches of grapes), 1980; Printed metal and nails on painted board; 28 x 16 x 2.4 cm; enquire
Untitled (12 bunches of grapes), 1980
Printed metal and nails on painted board
28 x 16 x 2.4 cm