Art thoughts: Tia Ansell

Exhibitions to July 25

1/119 Hopkins Street, Footscray

https://fivewalls.com.au

Soft Geometries: Britt Salt, Sara Lindsay, Shannon Slee, Tia Ansell

Soft Geometries, Brit Salt, Holding Tension, 2026.

'Soft Geometries brings together four Melbourne-based artists whose practices expand the language of geometric abstraction through textile processes. Working across weaving, stitching, embroidery and textile-based construction, Britt Salt, Shannon Slee, Sara Lindsay and Tia Ansell demonstrate that geometry is not confined to the traditions of painting or formal abstraction ...' excerpt, Five Walls Gallery Website.

Selected works:

Britt Salt, Neither-Nor, 2021, woven wool and cotton,
framed in stained timber with museum glass, 95 x 84 cm.

Shannon Slee, Geranium Rag Painting, 2024, woven spun wool,
pigment, ‘femboss’ rags, linen warp, framed in timber, 60 x 33 cm.

Sara Lindsay, Gingham Revisited: White Cross, 2024,
woven cotton, 22 x 23 cm.

Tia Ansell, Sam, 2025, acrylic on cotton and linen weaving,
framed in aluminium 33 x 22 x 5 cm.

Project Spaces

Daniel John Pilkington: Iconicities

'...When the intention to signify is itself written into the process of material production, or the process of production is written into the text, the resulting poem, or work of art, could be considered ‘iconic’. Iconicities explores this idea through a series of visual poems in which language is treated not simply as a transparent vehicle for meaning, but as a material, spatial, and physical form... Daniel John Pilkington, excerpt, Five Walls Gallery Website.

Selected works:

Alphabet Rod, 2023, Bronze, 100 x 3 x 3 cm.

Iconicity 3, 2021, Letterpress Embossing, 42 x 36 cm, Edition of 5.

Tina Douglas: Trying to Touch the Grass

'Trying to Touch the Grass takes its title from internet vernacular’s dismissive command — go outside, reconnect with reality — and asks why that has become so difficult, and what it costs us that it has.' Tina Douglas, excerpt, Five Walls Gallery Website.

Installation view of multiple mixed media works on paper, 2012-2026.

Installation view, R: mirrorcell - trying to touch the grass 2026,
mirror tiles, timber, cardboard, sound, media player,
speaker, 60 x 60 x 200 cm audio 33:58 min.

Mark Wingrave: Negative Positive

The Negative Positive by Mark Wingrave presents a series of paintings developed from a recent residency in Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia. While there he travelled through Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan ..' Mark Wingrave 2026, excerpt, Five Walls Gallery Website.

The Night was Day, 2026, oil on linen, 45 x 35 cm.

Journey to Central Asia (WIP), 2026, Artist's Book,
water colour and crayon on Arches paper 98 x 30cm.

Aug 4 – 29

‘The seventh edition of Spring1883 takes place at satellite spaces across Melbourne from 4-29 August 2021.

Spring1883 is a young and exciting gallerist-led art fair that presents the best of contemporary art practice from Australia and New Zealand.

Spring1883 was established in 2014 by Geoff Newton (Director, Neon Parc), Vikki McInnes and Kate Barber (Directors, Sarah Scout Presents) and Vasili Kaliman (art advisor), and launched at The Hotel Windsor, Melbourne in August 2014.’ Artsy

Selected work

Nicholas Thompson Gallery