The woman at Bowen Galleries remembered me, usually nobody does. I think I’m like a 4/10 on the scale of ‘memorable’. You’ve come in here before, why yes, and I always ask about the same artist because I want to make awkward conversation. Yeah thats me.
Caligo Memnon
Stephen Allwood
9 panels, 1020 x 1020 mm, 2012
Bowen galleries
Steven Allwood’s Insecta is a collection of insects. It is what is is really. They are painted really nicely although I don’t like the ones with the wooden frames painted in, they look a bit naff. A bit Etsy.
The amount of people who paint butterflies as pretty butterflies has made it very hard for me to see them as anything other than that. So often they are available en masse en bulke from those stores where you buy wedding gifts and mother’s day presents on a $20 canvas so you can literally litter your walls with them. To make these work you need to get as far away from that as possible, and although these are painted well, the intent just doesn’t shine through. I think the works are just too likeable to be allowed further likes. LIKE like.
The insects however, are painted expressively, impressionistic easy dreamy strokes each pinned with a tiny swirl of white against the canvas. The bugs are wonderful, the arrangements on the wall more like a natural swarm than a museum display. I think the bugs are great, it would be good to see these made on a smaller scale in larger numbers, or just to see him play with scale and arrangement on the wall more. Lovesth the bugth.
Vespula Vulgaris
20 panels, 2000 x 1720 mm, 2012
Stephen Allwood
Bowen Galleries
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