A retrospective exhibition has been created to celebrate the life of an artist, teacher, colleague and friend.
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Dr Sue Henderson, who was the head of drawing and painting at the School of Creative Arts in the University of Tasmania, died in 2016.
Her friends and colleagues gathered a collection of her work to showcase her skill as an artist and unique perspective on Tasmanian landscapes at the Academy Gallery at Inveresk.
Former UTAS lecturer Penny Mason and UTAS lecturer Dr Karen Hall have curated the collection of Henderson’s work for Embodied Landscapes.
Mason said her artwork was deeply inspired by her passion and perspective as a rock climber.
Henderson was a “force of nature”, who explored the intricacies of her environment, highlighting lichen and cracks amongst rock features, Mason said.
She captured the hesitation of climbers to view the expansive vista below them and the explosive energy to grasp for the next hand hold, she said.
The exhibition will be open between April 30 and May 30 at the university-based gallery.
“We wanted to do something to commemorate her memory,” Mason said.
“She made a tremendous contribution to the school as well as having a productive art practice.”
UTAS lecturer Dr Karen Hall said Henderson captured the rocky landscapes through large-scale ink paintings, installation work and by transforming everyday items into art.
“It’s a sense of whole body immersion,” Hall said.
The exhibition captures a decade worth of her work from 2006.
She did not want Embodied Landscapes to be a mournful exhibition, particularly as much of Henderson’s work captured a sense of playfulness and energy, Hall said.
“It’s about a celebration of an amazing person.”
The exhibition will be officially opened by UTAS photomedia and honours program coordinator Dr Troy Ruffels on Friday from 5.30pm until 7pm at the Academy Gallery.
Tess Brunton
I recently returned from across the ditch where I worked at New Zealand Fairfax paper The Timaru Herald and developed a love of mountains. Originally I'm a mainlander from an area known for cheese, the Bega Valley, who also dabbled in radio at ABC RCAFF before finding a place in newspapers. I can often be found hiking, caving or climbing when I'm not cursing at my work computer or technology in general.
I recently returned from across the ditch where I worked at New Zealand Fairfax paper The Timaru Herald and developed a love of mountains. Originally I'm a mainlander from an area known for cheese, the Bega Valley, who also dabbled in radio at ABC RCAFF before finding a place in newspapers. I can often be found hiking, caving or climbing when I'm not cursing at my work computer or technology in general.
