As Deputy Lord Mayor of Brisbane David Hinchliffe got to know the city better than most. He was elected first as a councillor for Brisbane City Council in 1988 and served as deputy lord mayor for 23 years.
But Hinchliffe had always been an artist first and foremost, so when he retired from politics he threw himself back into his first love. With gusto. He has now become one of Brisbane’s most loved artists and certainly one of our most prolific.
Hinchliffe is dazzlingly productive and has created a style that is unique and instantly recognisable. He’s now known all over the world. In fact, he’s quite the globe trotter, exhibiting overseas and teaching and painting exotic places.
He’s currently exhibiting at Red Hill Gallery. The exhibition is called, appropriately, Here, There and Everywhere. It’s a group show in which Hinchliffe is joined by artistic colleagues Tracey Lennon and Geraldine Mackenzie. Together this collection of artwork represents a collaboration by artists who inspire each other to paint their memories and experiences from here, there and everywhere.
Gallery director Margaret Campbell-Ryder says the exhibition “showcases the successful works of these three artists, offering their hometown of Brisbane a chance to experience their unique interpretations and atmospheric paintings”.
This new collection showcases Hinchliffe’s remarkable ability to capture the romance of Paris, the charm of rural France, the allure of Italian towns and perhaps, most importantly, the iconic landmarks of Brisbane. In this exhibition, Hinchliffe presents his work in acrylic, employing a contemporary impressionist style that emphasises vibrant clarity and atmospheric qualities.
Known for his mastery of light and depth, Hinchliffe brings to life the memories and emotions associated with these diverse landscapes and landmarks.
Hinchliffe has been painting, exhibiting and selling his work in galleries since the age of 12. He trained under Brisbane artist John Rigby and studied under premier Australian landscape artist and Archibald Prize-winner William Robinson. Hinchliffe furthered his practical artistic study in New York and London in the ’70s before returning home to pursue his career in politics.
His paintings are influenced by his career in urban government. He draws inspiration from the streets, laneways, footpaths and urban settings of the cities he loves.
“I try to capture the atmosphere and hopefully the feeling of a place,” he says. “Painting has heightened my powers of observation. It teaches me to observe closely. Light is a major influence on my work. I often think that if I’ve captured the light right, then I’ve done my job as an artist.
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“I enjoy the buzz of the city, the energy of the people who inhabit it, the play of light between the buildings, the narrow laneways, the shadows pedestrians cast on the footpath. There’s so much vitality and movement in these amazing cities. Of course, each city is different and I hope that as I grow as a painter I’ll be able to capture that distinctive essence of each city.
“No matter what great times I have painting in extraordinary parts of this world, I have never returned to Brisbane wishing that that I’d stayed longer in the city or cities I’ve been visiting. I always return with a sense of gratitude that I belong to such a special place with such good sub-tropical weather, magnificent parks with poincianas and jacarandas, its unique traditional Queenslander architecture and incomparable coffee.”
Hinchliffe says exhibiting at home each year is always a highlight – for the artist and his fans.
Here, There and Everywhere continues until October 27 at Red Hill Gallery.
redhillgallery.com.au
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