Vale Richard Giblett (1966-2018)
Written by: Dr Eugene Barilo von Reisberg
Together with the rest of the arts community, we were shocked to learn of the premature death at the age of 51 of Richard Giblett. Turner Galleries in Perth summed up his art practice aptly in an article for Giblett’s recent exhibition, frontier, when they wrote:‘Richard Giblett’s artwork imagery is concerned with systems, networks and the visual appearance of built environments and the connections that occur within these phenomena. He creates artworks using a range of methods that involve detailed model making to spray painted works on glass, meticulously hand painted large scale gouache paintings and collage on paper.
Giblett is well known for his highly precise sculptural, drawn and otherwise rendered depictions of geometric networks, structures and architectures. His striking and highly crafted artworks have strong ties to design elements, particularly of the industrial and architectural kind, yet as a visual artist he has a propensity toward making detailed and time consuming works by hand, without the assistance of design based computer programs.
A love of drawing, and a background in graphic design, has also inspired his artworks. Giblett uses gouache on his painted, and collaged, works, creating highly detailed and meticulous designs with a tiny brush. Themes of luxury goods, industry, advertising, architecture and art history combine to create unique artworks, that don’t necessarily critique, but rather, draw attention to the mass consumerisation of our lives. Giblett’s works certainly encourage questions and stimulate our imaginations.’
Formerly from Western Australia, where he completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) at Curtin University, Giblett moved to Melbourne sixteen years ago. He exhibited regularly with Murray White Rooms in Melbourne and (previously) with Galerie Dusseldorf in Perth. His works were included in major international exhibitions including the NGV Triennial (2017), Art Basel Hong Kong (2015) and Lisbon Architecture Triennial (2016). Giblett had held solo exhibitions at significant Australian institutions including the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, Perth in 1996 and 2006, and Gertrude Contemporary, Melbourne, in 2004. His work was exhibited at Heide Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne, 2011; the Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth (2005 and 2009); and the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne, 2006, among others. Giblett’s work was acquired by significant Australian and international collections including the National Gallery of Victoria; Artbank, Australia; the Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth; the Besen Collection, Melbourne; and Chanel Ltd, Paris.
We wish to express our deepest condolences to the artist’s partner, Jacqueline Low, and their daughters Matilda and Odessa.
Extract above quoted from http://www.turnergalleries.com.au/artists/richard_giblett.php © Turner Galleries, Perth, and Dr Eugene Barilo von Reisberg, for Lowensteins Arts Management, 2018.