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RHYME IS REASON – The Red Sea Horse

A HELEN NORTON EXHIBITION

Michael Commerford Gallery is very pleased to announce the exhibition, SEA HORSE by Helen Norton opening on 16 October 2003 for 4 weeks. 

 

Originally from Melbourne, Norton moved to Broome in 1986 and started exhibiting in 1988. A prolific artist, she has had over 60 exhibitions in Australia, and her work is now coveted in the US and the UK, after successful shows in New York and London respectively. Her art features in both private and corporate collections worldwide. Helen Norton now resides in Vanuatu.

 Norton’s works are wholly distinctive and immediately capture the imagination. Working with oils on Belgian linen, the paintings are vivid, bold and emit great energy. The monochromatic colours that define the Broome landscape have played an influential role in forming the colour palette for Norton. The colours are rich and deeply textured, drawing the viewer into the canvas.  

 While the content of the paintings is complex using imagery as metaphor for the human condition, her subjects often have a whimsical aspect to them. The compositions themselves act as self-contained narratives and there is a purity of vision in the art that could almost be interpreted as naïve. It is this feature that makes Norton’s art so appealing and enchanting.

 While she has been compared stylistically with Sidney Nolan, her subject matter is not so literal, but in fact more lyrical. In literary terms, her work may be likened to mystical realism, which is akin to South American writers. There is a sense of accessible fantasy but like the Chilean writers there is questioning in her work as she searches for clues to unlock the human psyche. She uses clowns to represent deception and angels to represent vulnerability and we see them depicted in unexpected environments.

 While her work has universal themes that can reach out to anyone anywhere, the interpretation is truly Australian. We see gum trees and liquid blue skies, deep crystallised ocean beds that can only be found in and around this antipodean land.

 Norton is one of the few artists today with strong technical skills which act as the underpin for an unbridled imagination. She evokes emotion from her viewer and we are compelled by nonsensical composition that make perfect sense. And this is what makes her work so accessible and desirable – the imagery reaches out to us with its pathos and humour. Beautifully depicted, the art speaks to us of our role in nature and its role in nurturing our souls.

 Norton urges people to rely on their “intuitive inner guidance” and in her art, the mythical sea horse is representative of our own individual messenger. As it can only be realised in its abstract form, we cannot define it in real terms, and therefore we are open to find our own truth free of worldly distraction. Through her work, Norton may be described as a concerned optimist and this is evident in her work. However we may regard it, we are left uplifted, happier for the experience. 

 SEA HORSE by Helen Norton may be viewed at the Michael Commerford Gallery, 16 McLachlan Avenue, Rushcutters Bay, 9331 3338, from 16 October - 9 November 2003.

Artists Statement

Photos of the show here

Symbols and Explanations by Artist

Poem - The Lighthouse Keeper

Poem - The Red Seahorse

Poem - A Thousand Horses Passed 

Poem - Ants and God

Poem - The People's Supreme Justice 

A Lighthouse Keepers Uniform - research

 

 

Keeper Meets Sea Horse - Helen Norton Art
Keeper Meets Sea Horse Sold Out
Shores of the Other Place - Helen Norton Art
Shores of the Other Place Sold Out
Neptunes Horses - Helen Norton Art
Neptunes Horses Sold Out

Banquet - Helen Norton Art
Banquet Sold Out
Horse of the Red Robin - Helen Norton Art
Horse of the Red Robin Sold Out
Maid in Emotions - Helen Norton Art
Maid in Emotions Sold Out

Red Seahorse in Blue - Helen Norton Art
Red Seahorse in Blue Sold Out
Bad Crone 2 - Loveless Spinster - Helen Norton Art
Bad Crone 2 - Loveless Spinster Sold Out
Bad Crone 3 - Marginal Masculinity
Bad Crone 3 - Marginal Masculinity Sold Out

The Lighthouse Keeper
The Lighthouse Keeper Sold Out
Blue Dream with Gold Egg
Blue Dream with Gold Egg Sold Out
Bad Crone 1 - Martyr Mother
Bad Crone 1 - Martyr Mother Sold Out

Lightkeeper and Dog in Surf
Lightkeeper and Dog in Surf Sold Out
Red Horse in Boat
Red Horse in Boat Sold Out
On Crest
On Crest Sold Out

Sleeping Man
Sleeping Man Sold Out
Mermaid on Seahorse
Mermaid on Seahorse Sold Out
The Keepers Game
The Keepers Game Sold Out

Reality Shift
Reality Shift Sold Out
Dog with Paw on Table
Dog with Paw on Table Sold Out
Vessel
Vessel Sold Out

Underwater
Underwater Sold Out
Meeting Neptune
Meeting Neptune Sold Out
Big Wave
Big Wave Sold Out

Standing Dog
Standing Dog Sold Out
White Startled Dog
White Startled Dog Sold Out
Angel
Angel Sold Out

Girl at Doorway
Girl at Doorway Sold Out
Man With Scarf
Man With Scarf Sold Out
Challenged Spirit
Challenged Spirit Sold Out

Transformation
Transformation Sold Out
End of Words (Burning Scripture)
End of Words (Burning Scripture) Sold Out
Rose Above Vessel
Rose Above Vessel Sold Out

Rose Forms
Rose Forms Sold Out
Small Brave Journey
Small Brave Journey Sold Out
The Fantasy in Reality - Red Horse
The Fantasy in Reality - Red Horse Sold Out

Little Red Myth
Little Red Myth Sold Out
Fish Form
Fish Form Sold Out
Busy Man
Busy Man Sold Out

Neptunes Complex
Neptunes Complex Sold Out
Approaching Blue Horse
Approaching Blue Horse Sold Out
Neptunes Last Look
Neptunes Last Look Sold Out

Magenta Edge
Magenta Edge Sold Out
Warm Love
Warm Love Sold Out
Quest for Soul
Quest for Soul Sold Out

Neptunes Grief
Neptunes Grief Sold Out
Evolving Rose
Evolving Rose Sold Out