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Godfrey Blow
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Biography
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I was born in North Hykeham, Lincolnshire, England in 1948. In 1971 I gained a BA Hons Degree in Fine Art from Sheffield Hallam University and attended Manchester Metro University in 1973, where I qualified as a teacher. In 1982 I emigrated to Australia. Numerous solo and mixed exhibitions of my work have been held in Western Australia since 1982. I have also participated in a number of mixed shows in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, India and the United Kingdom. My work is represented in private and public collections in Australia, including The Art Gallery of Western Australia, Artbank Australia, University of Western Australia and the collections of the cities of Bunbury, Albany and Fremantle. In addition I have won several prestigious art awards in Western Australia.
Since 2002 I have exhibited with the Stuckist group most notably in their landmark exhibition, The Stuckist Punk Victorian at the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, during the 2004 Liverpool Biennial. I was one of the featured artists exhibiting in the Triumph of Stuckism, which was part of Liverpool's 2006 Biennial.
In October of 2006, I was a finalist in Australia's richest award for landscape painting, the Fleurieu Peninsula Biennale Art Prize, South Australia.
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Statement
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Much of my work is concerned with exploring symbols derived from natural forms that give an insight into the nature of existence. The images originate from a study of landscape in Britain, Australia and Thailand. I combine organic and human forms and symbolic imagery. The various experiences of life influence the things I paint. The sudden and recent death of my parents has had a profound influence on my work. The inevitability of death, which is perhaps still a taboo in our society, is dealt with in several of my later works. This is not to say that the paintings depict a pessimistic view of the world. The work, in fact, presents life in all of its various facets and hopefully touches part of our intellect and emotions.
The elements in the work are highly personal but it is hoped that the images used will strike a universal chord. Although spiritual in nature the work is not religious and seeks to understand the world in a meaningful way.
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Exhibitions
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Solo Exhibitions.
2006 Stafford Studios, "Symbols & Metaphors", Cottesloe, Perth, W.A.
2001 Church Gallery, Claremont, Perth, W.A.
1998 Gomboc Gallery, James Street, Middle Swan, W.A.
1996 Gomboc Gallery, James Street, Middle Swan, W.A.
1993 The Geraldton Regional Gallery, 24 Chapman Road, Geraldton, W.A.
1992 Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, "Facing the Dawn", University of Western Australia, Perth, W.A.
1989 Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle, W.A.
1986 Quentin Gallery, Claremont, Perth, W.A.
1984 Undercroft Gallery, University of Western Australia, Perth, W.A.
1983 Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle, W.A.
Glyde Gallery, Mosman Park, Perth, W.A.
1980 Hendon Library, Hendon, London, England.
1976 Barnet Arts Centre, London, England.
Selected Group Exhibitions.
2007 Guildford Grammar School Art Exhibition, Guildford, Perth, W.A.
"I won't have sex with you as long as we're married", A Gallery, Wimbledon, London, England.
Cossack Art Award, Invited Artists Only, Cossack, W.A.
Mandorla Award for Contemporary Religious Art, Central TAFE Art Gallery, Perth, W.A.
Minnawarra Art Award, Armadale, Perth, W.A.
2006 The Fleurieu Peninsula Biennial, Finalist for The Fleurieu Peninsula Art Prize for Australian Landscape Painting, South Australia.
"Triumph of Stuckism", John Moores University, Liverpool Biennial, Liverpool, England.
The Real Turner Prize by the Stuckists, 43 South Molton Street, London, England.
"Expressions in Miniature Size", Waves Art Gallery, Pune, India.
Minnawarra Art Award, Armadale, Perth, W.A.
2005 Cossack Art Award, Invited Artists Only, Cossack, W.A.
"A Parched Progress:Landscapes of Australia", Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, University of Western Australia, Perth, W.A.
Minnawarra Art Award, Armadale, Perth, W.A.
2004 Cossack Art Award, Invited Artists Only, Cossack, W.A.
Mixed Passions, Stafford Studios of Fine Art, Cottesloe, Perth, W.A.
The Stuckist Punk Victorian, Liverpool Biennial, The Walker and Lady Lever Art Gallery, Liverpool, England.
2003 "Fire On!", Stafford Studio of Fine Art, Cottesloe, Perth, W.A.
2002 Art of the Refugee, Moores Building, Fremantle, W.A.
Cossack Art Award, Cossack, W.A.
The First Stuckist International, Stuckist International Centre, London, England.
"Stuck up North", Newcastle Art Centre, Newcastle, England.
"Stuck Down South", Fad Gallery, Chinatown, Melbourne, Victoria.
2001 Salek Minc Art Exhibition, Jewish Centre, Yokine, W.A.
2000 City of Albany Art Prize, Albany, W.A.
1999 Princess Margaret Hospital for Children Foundation Art Auction & Sale, Kings Cafe, Perth,
W.A.
1998 I am not a racist but......Symposium and Visual Arts Exhibition, Kulcha, Fremantle.
"Being", Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, W.A.
1996 Summer'96: A mixed exhibition of West Australian Artists, Kalla Yeedip Arts, Midland, W.A.
Memory & Reality, an exhibition of contemporary art work by W.A. Artists, Kalla Yeedip Arts,W.A.
Australian in London, Mall Galleries, London, England.
1995 Recollections-5 year Gallery Celebration, Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery,University of Western Australia, Perth, W.A.
1994 Williams Art Competition, Williams, W.A.
1993 Selected Acquisitions, Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, University of Western Australia, Perth,
W.A.
20th Anniversary Exhibition, Williams Art Competition, Williams, W.A.
1990 Small scale painting exhibition, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, W.A.
1989 9 x 5, Undercroft Gallery, University of Western Australia, Perth, W.A.
Mosman Art Prize, Mosman, NSW.
1988 Paint for peace, Moores Building, Fremantle, W.A.
1987 25th Albany Art Competition, Albany, W.A.
Royal Agricultural Society of WA Invitation Art Award, Perth, W.A.
1986 BP Art Award, Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth, W.A.
1985 WA Week Invitation Art Award, Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle, WA .
1984 WA Week Invitation Art Award, Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle, W.A.
Destination China, Nexus, Fremantle, Touring Exhibition for the People's Republic of China.
Bunbury City Invitation Drawing & Printmaking Exhibition, Bunbury, W.A.
1983 Annual Art Exhibition, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, W.A.
1973 Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, England.
1972 Open Art Exhibition, Graves Art Gallery, Sheffield, England.
1971 Graduate Show, Mappin Art Gallery, Sheffield, England.
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