A large wok from renowned chef Kylie Kwong‘s restaurant has taken center stage in artist Nell‘s latest exhibition at the Heide Museum of Modern Art. The wok, adorned with a smiling face, forms part of a sculpture titled Meeting the Day (inside) 2025, resting on a vintage wooden ironing board. This piece serves as a heartfelt tribute to Kwong, conveying a message that encourages viewers to find beauty in everyday life.
Nell describes her exhibition, titled Face Everything, as a site-specific and themed showcase rather than a traditional survey. The exhibition features a total of 85 works, with 50 being newly created for this occasion. Nell articulates her artistic vision by stating, “It’s all works that have both those meanings: I see faces in everything, and to face everything, the difficulties and whatever life is asking us to face at any time.” This exploration includes a vibrant use of color, chosen intentionally to counterbalance the “dire” state of the world today.
The artist explains that her work draws on themes of joy, sorrow, and grief, presenting a nuanced emotional landscape. “It doesn’t shy away from harder things, but it’s not punching you in the face,” she notes, emphasizing the complexity of human experiences reflected in her art.
Nell’s artistic style often intertwines concepts of life and death, impermanence, and domesticity, influenced by her practice of Buddhism. She frequently incorporates playful faces into her pieces, using simple expressions to elicit immediate emotional responses from viewers. This approach invites audiences to engage with her work on a visceral level, bypassing intellectual barriers.
In addition to her visual art, Nell employs text as a means of clarity, ensuring that her messages resonate with the audience. Many of the new pieces were inspired by the architecture of the Heide Modern gallery, designed by David McGlashan as a living space for the gallery’s founders, John and Sunday Reed, in 1963.
The exhibition opens on March 16, 2024, and is poised to offer a fresh perspective on contemporary art, blending personal narratives with broader societal themes. As Nell continues to explore the interplay between beauty and everyday life, her work invites viewers to engage thoughtfully with their own experiences.
The exhibition promises to be a vibrant celebration of creativity, reflecting both the joys and challenges of life, and demonstrating the power of art to inspire and provoke thought. Visitors to the Heide Museum of Modern Art can look forward to an engaging experience that resonates on multiple levels.
