Nigel Milsom- The Eyes have it
Artworks are always the best windows into the souls of an artist, and Nigel Milsom is one particular Australian artist whose works portray a sensitivity and meaning that delve deep into his troubled past and show us exactly how he feels and how his artworks are his release. Recently, Juniper Hall opened a show featuring some of his best new and old works.
Untitled, Judo House Part 2, 2009
His quiet little show in the incredible Juniper Hall is a thing of beauty. Simple, quiet and full of intensity. The room was abuzz with feeling even without music or decoration. It’s quiet; the curator has chosen to leave music out of the show so that we can fully enjoy the artworks without being overstimulated with music. It is the opinion of this art lover that works by Nigel Milsom need little else for them to be fully enjoyed. His art stands alone in its uninhibited beauty.
Judo House Part 6 (The White Bird), 2014-15
The structural form that shapes the faces he paints are detailed and delicate. The angles of the brush strokes form expression on the faces, and give age to the character. One example of this is the painting ‘Uncle Paddy’, which sits at the entrance of the very first room. Milsom painted this picture as a commemoration to the man that would sit with his late grandfather at the NSW Leagues Club on a Saturday night and drink with him. The face of Paddy is worn and old, but proud. Each angle gives expression and a character to the painting. Black and white, limited colour and a black background gives off a essence of sadness. But it’s the eyes that are most haunting. They look down upon you, almost judging and follow you around the room. You’re never alone in a room of Nigel Milsom paintings.
‘Uncle Paddy’
The space for the exhibition is very clean and simple. Lights facing each painting hang down from the ceiling that highlights all the essential details of the painting. There is also a lot of natural light that come through the big windows of the house. The spacing between paintings allows for each painting to feature on it’s own with the white wall backdrop. One of the best features of the exhibition, in my humble opinion, is the fact that there aren’t too many paintings in each room. Your eyes read the room without being crowded and unfocused. The smallness of the exhibition makes it very memorable.
Milsom has not enjoyed a very happy past. He has struggled for years with depression and i feel that that translates into his paintings. Studying the paintings, there isn’t a lot of joy that comes from the portraits. It radiates seriousness, and that is punctuated by the angles and structure of the face. Perhaps his paintings are a way for him to channel his energy and frustrations into an avenue that will help him vent those feelings.
For an afternoon of intrigue and incredible paintings, i suggest you mosey on down to Juniper Hall to enjoy an exhibition of talent and mystery where you’ll be asking yourself, what is behind those serious eyes in a Nigel Milsom painting?
Where: Juniper Hall, 250 Oxford Street, Paddington NSW 2021
When: The exhibition is on until the 17th of May
Show is open Wed-Sun 10am-5pm.
