Energy, plenitude, sexual power…the beauty of the world and all that’s in it. And the challenge of navigating this…

Julie Ewington

Exhibition Dates: 3 October – 23 October 2019

Energy, plenitude, sexual power…the beauty of the world and all that’s in it. And the challenge of navigating this…

Del Kathryn Barton’s world is rich with sumptuous colour; a profusion of scintillating details radiates the busy vigour of creation. Embedded in brilliant patterned fields, the women inhabiting her majestic tableaux are inextricably part of the natural world, growing into being alongside flowers and animals. It’s a moot point where vegetation stops and the women begin – are these upright figures breathing trees of life? Yet despite their physical enmeshment in this verdant growth, Barton’s figures are pictured embodiments of psychic states, of urgent emotional drives on the verge of becoming.

Perhaps being rooted in the earth explains the preternatural focus of these benign spirits, their eyes forever wide open. Notice how alert these women are, hyper-attentive to the point of anxiety: their very stillness suggests the fight-or-flight response. Of course.  Here, in this silent immobility, is the potential for explosive action: each individual face captures one fugitive thought: i am not so different from you, in your inner life…. we are all uncontrollable, says one; i give my radiance to you, intones the glorious all-seeing bloom. There, on the other hand, cast bronze (whether matte black or dazzling golden) fuses opposed energies into solid forms. All are field reports from the emotional frontline.

A woman’s life is full to overflowing…many loves, competing claims, endless tasks. It’s a maelstrom of desires, demands, duties…Take the title of this exhibition: i wanted to build a bed for all the tired beds embraces the responsiveness that inflects every aspect of a mother’s life. While her children inhabit her dreams, she conjures sleep, and the loving shelter of those tiny cradles, floating in the infinite cosmos. They are for children, but also for herself. And any of us willing to join her…

- Julie Ewington, 2019




Del Kathryn Barton (b. 1972) has won the Archibald Prize twice, in 2008 with a self-portrait with her two children, and in 2013 with a portrait of Hugo Weaving. Barton recently presented a major survey exhibition The Highway is a Disco at the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne (2017-18). In 2012, a solo exhibition of Barton’s work was presented at the Heide Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne. She has also been included in numerous group exhibitions, notably Dark Heart, 2014 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide (2014); Express Yourself, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne (2014); Australia: Contemporary Voices, The Fine Art Society, London (2013); Louise Bourgeois and Australian Artists, Heide Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne (2012); Theatre of the World, Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart (2012); Lightness and Gravity, Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane (2012); Wilderness, Balnaves Contemporary Painting, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney (2010); Feminism Never Happened, Institute of Modern Art (IMA), Brisbane (2010); and Contemporary Australia: Optimism, Queensland Art Gallery Triennale, Brisbane (2009). In 2015, Barton was awarded the AFTRS Creative Fellowship, following on from her directorial debut with The Nightingale and the Rose (2015). This film was presented in Barton’s major solo exhibition Del Kathryn Barton: The Nightingale and the Rose at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Melbourne (2016). This exhibition is now touring regional galleries in Australia. Barton was awarded Screen Australia’s Gender Matters funding in 2016 and was selected as a finalist in the 2017 Bowness Prize.

Barton’s work is represented in many major museum collections in Australia, including the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney; Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane; National Gallery of Australia, Canberra; Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide; and Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart.

Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery has represented Del Kathyn Barton since 2011.

The artist would like to wish special thanks to

My loves Chris, Kell and Arella Plater. Gratitude to Liz Ellis, Phil James, Tavlin Charter, Lisa Twomey, Jacob Spokes, Boris Tosic from Elan Construct, Michelle and Matt from FX Framing, Matt Crawford and team from Crawford Casting, Roslyn and Tony Oxley, Cassandra Bird, Andrew Moran and the larger team at Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery.

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Del Kathryn Barton here with us....the pleasure brain, 2019; acrylic on French linen; 200 x 240 cm; enquire
here with us....the pleasure brain, 2019
acrylic on French linen
200 x 240 cm
Del Kathryn Barton so grateful too have met you -  so grateful to open my cells for u to grow u, 2019; acrylic on French linen; 200 x 240 cm; enquire
so grateful too have met you - so grateful to open my cells for u to grow u, 2019
acrylic on French linen
200 x 240 cm
Del Kathryn Barton and the little toe said….listen, listen to the earth, 2019; acrylic on French linen; 240 x 200 cm; enquire
and the little toe said….listen, listen to the earth, 2019
acrylic on French linen
240 x 200 cm
Del Kathryn Barton kiss me mother - kiss your darling, 2019; acrylic on French linen, hand finished frame; 160 x 140 cm; enquire
kiss me mother - kiss your darling, 2019
acrylic on French linen, hand finished frame
160 x 140 cm
Del Kathryn Barton butterfly...she changed everything, 2019; oil and acrylic on French linen, hand finished frame; 160 x 140 cm; enquire
butterfly...she changed everything, 2019
oil and acrylic on French linen, hand finished frame
160 x 140 cm
Del Kathryn Barton i am not so different from you, in your inner life...we are all uncontrollable, 2019; oil and acrylic on French linen, hand finished frame; 102 x 81.5 cm; enquire
i am not so different from you, in your inner life...we are all uncontrollable, 2019
oil and acrylic on French linen, hand finished frame
102 x 81.5 cm
Del Kathryn Barton linger on, 2019; acrylic on French linen, hand finished frame; 160 x 140 cm; enquire
linger on, 2019
acrylic on French linen, hand finished frame
160 x 140 cm
Del Kathryn Barton feel the earth, deeply, 2019; oil and acrylic on French linen, hand finished frame; 102 x 81.5 cm; enquire
feel the earth, deeply, 2019
oil and acrylic on French linen, hand finished frame
102 x 81.5 cm
Del Kathryn Barton i came here to heal, 2019; oil and acrylic on French linen, hand finished frame; 102 x 81.5 cm; enquire
i came here to heal, 2019
oil and acrylic on French linen, hand finished frame
102 x 81.5 cm
Del Kathryn Barton her own nature - ffffrrrriend, 2019; acrylic, oil stick on paper, hand finished frame; 164 x 117.5 cm; enquire
her own nature - ffffrrrriend, 2019
acrylic, oil stick on paper, hand finished frame
164 x 117.5 cm
Del Kathryn Barton im out, 2019; acrylic, oil stick on paper, hand finished frame; 164 x 117.5 cm; enquire
im out, 2019
acrylic, oil stick on paper, hand finished frame
164 x 117.5 cm
Del Kathryn Barton she just knows, 2019; acrylic on paper; 164 x 117.5 cm; enquire
she just knows, 2019
acrylic on paper
164 x 117.5 cm
Del Kathryn Barton now can i share my wonderful news with you..., 2019; acrylic on paper; 164 x 117.5 cm; enquire
now can i share my wonderful news with you..., 2019
acrylic on paper
164 x 117.5 cm
Del Kathryn Barton son and mother, 2019; acrylic on paper; 164 x 117.5 cm; enquire
son and mother, 2019
acrylic on paper
164 x 117.5 cm
Del Kathryn Barton here she HEAR, 2019; bronze; 205 x 115 x 75 cm; 140 kg; Edition of 3 + 2 APs; enquire
here she HEAR, 2019
bronze
205 x 115 x 75 cm; 140 kg
Edition of 3 + 2 APs
Del Kathryn Barton i take it down to the flow, 2019; bronze and hand finished plinth, acrylic, MDF; sculpture: 94 x 70 x 55 cm, 100kg; plinth: 95 x 55 x 55 cm; Edition of 3 + 2APs; enquire
i take it down to the flow, 2019
bronze and hand finished plinth, acrylic, MDF
sculpture: 94 x 70 x 55 cm, 100kg; plinth: 95 x 55 x 55 cm
Edition of 3 + 2APs
Del Kathryn Barton i take it down to the flow, 2019; bronze and hand finished plinth, acrylic, MDF; sculpture: 94 x 70 x 55 cm, 100kg; plinth: 95 x 55 x 55 cm; Edition of 3 + 2APs; enquire
i take it down to the flow, 2019
bronze and hand finished plinth, acrylic, MDF
sculpture: 94 x 70 x 55 cm, 100kg; plinth: 95 x 55 x 55 cm
Edition of 3 + 2APs
Del Kathryn Barton the infinite adjustment of the throat...and then, a smile, 2019; bronze and hand finished plinth, acrylic, MDF; sculpture: 120 x 50 x 50 cm, 128.76kg; plinth: 70 x 50 x 50 cm; Edition of 3 + 2APs; enquire
the infinite adjustment of the throat...and then, a smile, 2019
bronze and hand finished plinth, acrylic, MDF
sculpture: 120 x 50 x 50 cm, 128.76kg; plinth: 70 x 50 x 50 cm
Edition of 3 + 2APs
Del Kathryn Barton i am hear with my body, 2019; bronze and hand finished plinth, acrylic, MDF; sculpture: 101 x 45 x 54 cm, 90kg; plinth: 80 x 45 x 45 cm; Edition of 3 + 2APs; enquire
i am hear with my body, 2019
bronze and hand finished plinth, acrylic, MDF
sculpture: 101 x 45 x 54 cm, 90kg; plinth: 80 x 45 x 45 cm
Edition of 3 + 2APs
Del Kathryn Barton it will confess, 2018; bronze, hand finished acrylic, MDF; sculpture: 65 x 48 x 42 cm, 33kg; plinth: 90 x 46 x 46 cm; enquire
it will confess, 2018
bronze, hand finished acrylic, MDF
sculpture: 65 x 48 x 42 cm, 33kg; plinth: 90 x 46 x 46 cm
Del Kathryn Barton soft river yr girl too, 2018; bronze, hand-finished acrylic, MDF; sculpture: 95.5 x 30 x 30 cm, 13kg; plinth: 75 x 57 x 57 cm; enquire
soft river yr girl too, 2018
bronze, hand-finished acrylic, MDF
sculpture: 95.5 x 30 x 30 cm, 13kg; plinth: 75 x 57 x 57 cm
Del Kathryn Barton soft river yr girl three, 2018; bronze, hand-finished acrylic, MDF; sculpture: 78 x 35 x 22 cm, 10kg; plinth: 100 x 57 x 57 cm; enquire
soft river yr girl three, 2018
bronze, hand-finished acrylic, MDF
sculpture: 78 x 35 x 22 cm, 10kg; plinth: 100 x 57 x 57 cm
Del Kathryn Barton i wanted too build a bed for all the tired beds, 2019; acrylic on French linen, bronze, dupion silk, timber, twine and found objects; 370 x 650 x 340 cm; enquire
i wanted too build a bed for all the tired beds, 2019
acrylic on French linen, bronze, dupion silk, timber, twine and found objects
370 x 650 x 340 cm
Del Kathryn Barton old friend, 2019; gouache on paper, hand finished frame; 87 x 67.5 cm; enquire
old friend, 2019
gouache on paper, hand finished frame
87 x 67.5 cm
Del Kathryn Barton family, 2019; gouache on paper, hand finished frame; 87 x 67.5 cm; enquire
family, 2019
gouache on paper, hand finished frame
87 x 67.5 cm
Del Kathryn Barton she the one i bet on, 2019; gouache on paper, hand finished frame; 87 x 67.5 cm; enquire
she the one i bet on, 2019
gouache on paper, hand finished frame
87 x 67.5 cm
Del Kathryn Barton bared the moment, 2019; gouache on paper, hand finished frame; 87 x 67.5 cm; enquire
bared the moment, 2019
gouache on paper, hand finished frame
87 x 67.5 cm
Del Kathryn Barton through silent halls, 2019; gouache on paper, hand finished frame; 87 x 67.5 cm; enquire
through silent halls, 2019
gouache on paper, hand finished frame
87 x 67.5 cm
Del Kathryn Barton its who i am, 2019; gouache on paper, hand finished frame; 87 x 67.5 cm; enquire
its who i am, 2019
gouache on paper, hand finished frame
87 x 67.5 cm
Del Kathryn Barton a human, 2019; gouache on paper, hand finished frame; 87 x 67.5 cm; enquire
a human, 2019
gouache on paper, hand finished frame
87 x 67.5 cm
Del Kathryn Barton i just noticed yr rainbow, 2019; gouache on paper, hand finished frame; 87 x 67.5 cm; enquire
i just noticed yr rainbow, 2019
gouache on paper, hand finished frame
87 x 67.5 cm
Del Kathryn Barton under a low sky, 2019; gouache on paper, hand finished frame; 87 x 67.5 cm; enquire
under a low sky, 2019
gouache on paper, hand finished frame
87 x 67.5 cm
Del Kathryn Barton ok...wait, 2019; gouache on paper, hand finished frame; 87 x 67.5 cm; enquire
ok...wait, 2019
gouache on paper, hand finished frame
87 x 67.5 cm
Del Kathryn Barton in the stir of..., 2019; gouache on paper, hand finished frame; 87 x 67.5 cm; enquire
in the stir of..., 2019
gouache on paper, hand finished frame
87 x 67.5 cm
Del Kathryn Barton own it, 2019; gouache on paper, hand finished frame; 87 x 67.5 cm; enquire
own it, 2019
gouache on paper, hand finished frame
87 x 67.5 cm
Del Kathryn Barton the child that retains every fleck of energy, 2019; gouache on paper, hand finished frame; 87 x 67.5 cm; enquire
the child that retains every fleck of energy, 2019
gouache on paper, hand finished frame
87 x 67.5 cm
Del Kathryn Barton its over, 2019; gouache on paper, hand finished frame; 87 x 67.5 cm; enquire
its over, 2019
gouache on paper, hand finished frame
87 x 67.5 cm
Del Kathryn Barton of her breathing, 2019; gouache on paper, hand finished frame; 87 x 67.5 cm; enquire
of her breathing, 2019
gouache on paper, hand finished frame
87 x 67.5 cm
Del Kathryn Barton day light, i mean whoa!, 2019; gouache on paper, hand finished frame; 87 x 67.5 cm; enquire
day light, i mean whoa!, 2019
gouache on paper, hand finished frame
87 x 67.5 cm
Del Kathryn Barton to my home, 2019; gouache on paper, hand finished frame; 87 x 67.5 cm; enquire
to my home, 2019
gouache on paper, hand finished frame
87 x 67.5 cm
Del Kathryn Barton we sat together, 2019; gouache on paper, hand finished frame; 87 x 67.5 cm; enquire
we sat together, 2019
gouache on paper, hand finished frame
87 x 67.5 cm
Del Kathryn Barton i like worried painted - paint, 2019; gouache on paper, hand finished frame; 87 x 67.5 cm; enquire
i like worried painted - paint, 2019
gouache on paper, hand finished frame
87 x 67.5 cm
Del Kathryn Barton i care mutha fucka, 2019; gouache on paper, hand finished frame; 87 x 67.5 cm; enquire
i care mutha fucka, 2019
gouache on paper, hand finished frame
87 x 67.5 cm
Del Kathryn Barton i tink, 2019; gouache on paper, hand finished frame; 87 x 67.5 cm; enquire
i tink, 2019
gouache on paper, hand finished frame
87 x 67.5 cm
Del Kathryn Barton gunna take my own car, 2019; gouache on paper, hand finished frame; 87 x 67.5 cm; enquire
gunna take my own car, 2019
gouache on paper, hand finished frame
87 x 67.5 cm
Del Kathryn Barton i give my radiance to you, 2019; acrylic, oil stick on paper; 86 x 67 cm; enquire
i give my radiance to you, 2019
acrylic, oil stick on paper
86 x 67 cm