The Art Journal
A Walk Through the Water Spirits of Aveiro ExhIbition, Aveiro, Portugal
The exhibition catalog is available here. Full details on each artwork is available here A report on the exhibition and photos from the opening are available here
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My New Creative World
The Ensign 2 "Ralph Kerle's work challenges what we understand to be photography..."~Australian Photography Magazine. Almost a decade ago, I started to feel the need to return to my own creative practice as opposed to consulting, designing, and coaching creative leadership and creativity, my career for almost three decades. I wanted to discover what it was like to be creative in my own right again. Serendipity played a role initially as this search began. I used kayaking as a regular form of exercise and meditation seeking inspiration and insight about what returning to creative practice might entail. One day whilst on the water, I decided I wanted to capture the sense of what was happening and what I was seeing. I took some photos. Little did I think from this initial foray into digital photography I would develop a body of artworks built on a creative practice I had no forethought, intention or training in, only the desire to capture a feeling I was experiencing. After ten years, I certainly did not expect to be able to claim to be a Louis Vuitton commissioned artist, to have a had solo exhibition at the Australian National Maritime Museum commissioned by the Royal Australian Navy and to have two exhibitions running currently in Europe, the Indeterminate Sublime at the prestigious Mark Rothko Arts Centre, Daugavpils, Latvia and the Water Spirits of Aveiro at the Galeria Edifício Antiga Capitania Aveiro, Portugal. In addition, I have my own art gallery, Ralph Kerle Gallery, on the Corso in Manly, Sydney, perhaps one of the best known beach destinations in Australia, exhibiting my work continuously 7 days a week You can view a film on my creative journey here. The Redness in Reflection Embarking on a third career has filled me with purpose that has been therapeutic and fulfilling. Pursuing life as an artist is hugely rewarding personally. In the future I will be writing more about creating change and embracing new opportunities in third stage careers. I do send emails from time to time to announce new artworks or to invite followers such as yourself to launches and openings. There is an unsubscribe button on the email if you do not wish to receive any further communication. Otherwise, feel free to pop me a line via email. I would be interested to hear your thoughts on my journey, the artworks and any general comments you might like to make. Thank you for supporting me in an earlier career. I hope this story from my new career has bought you some joy, insight and inspiration.
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The Story of the Indeterminate Sublime Exhibition, Mark Rothko Arts Centre, Daugavpils, Latvia.
In recent weeks I have woken to a feeling of disbelief as I scratch my head and wonder how did I end up here? Imagine an extraordinary fortress, built in Tzarist Russia, an impressive structure in the harsh winter landscape. The historic building has endured the 20th century and transformed into a major arts institution featuring iconic pieces of the modern art canon. And when you arrive on the first level and turn right you see Impressions of a Turner Landscape by Ralph Kerle at the entrance to my very own exhibition. But if you turn left you see a room containing 6 or perhaps 7 original Rothko's, each artwork valued at over US$80million. The Mark Rothko Arts Centre, Daugavpils, Latvia To my great delight, my exhibition is part of events to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the Mark Rothko Centre, a very important moment for Daugavpils in their endeavour to become the European Capital of Culture. I am honoured to be part of the international programme celebrating this moment. It is important period for the Centre as it coincides with the introduction of Rothko originals previously unseen in the institution. Every three years the Rothkos on show are exchanged with a new selection of Rothko's original works coming from the archives in New York. This 10-anniversary year is particularly significant for the Centre as the Rothko family chose to gift two original Rothko artworks to celebrate the occasion. From l- r Zane Melane, Head of Collections, Kate Rothko-Prixel, Maris Cacka, Director, Mark Rothko Arts Centre I have had an extremely encouraging email from the curator of the Mark Rothko Arts Centre, Aivars Baranovskis, saying "Your exhibition is a huge success in the Rothko Centre with a lot of questions to our exhibition guides and general appreciation of the public." I am very thankful to you, Aivars Baranovskis, for your advice and support in curating my exhibition). Some of you, as collectors of my artwork and subscribers to my Art Journal, may recognize artworks you have acquired as part of this exhibition. A big thank you to you as it is with your support that I have been able to continue to develop the work and my practice that has resulted in this exhibition. The exhibition runs until May 23 in Daugavpils, Latvia
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The Official Opening of the Indeterminate Sublime Exhibition
A video of the official opening of the exhibition including a speech by the Australian Ambassador to Sweden Finland and Latvia and a short speech in which I describe the history and intent behind the exhibition and the artworks.
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Mark Rothko's Art, Its Connection with and Influence on Ralph Kerle's work
The Stage of Rothko’s Creative Evolution The new season of exhibitions that runs until mid May 2023 at the Mark Rothko Arts Centre marks the 10th anniversary of this important EU and Latvian cultural initiative. What an honour to be a featured artist during this period. The Rothko’s currently on show at the gallery are reproductions awaiting the arrival in April from the Rothko Foundation in America of 6 major original works. Now I have had a chance to see Rothko’s work at full size, albeit reproductions, the more I understand why my work was selected to exhibit during this period. Rothko was greatly influenced by J.M.W.Turner, the 18th Century marine artist with his impressionistic style and innovative use of watercolour and his obsession with colour as emotion. The distinct lack of sharp edges in his works are all elements that have been an integral part of my work.
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National Opportunities for Impaired People
I looked up at the gallery entrance to see Alan with his white cane feeling his way down the stairs into the gallery. As I looked up from the entrance desk, he smiled at me and said “Love your artwork...” This was a shock. Was this guy having me on? I am the one who is playing with perception and how the brain works so this ironic exchange required some cognitive adjustment of my own. Alan has developed a rare eye condition in which the pigment in his eye is slowly disintegrating. He will go blind ultimately. The condition was diagnosed 5 years ago and he has now lost all peripheral vision. He uses the cane so he doesn’t knock people over or knock into things. He has tunnel vision on a good day. Alan’s attitude towards his condition is brave. He is opposed to the name “the national disability scheme”. He wants it renamed “the national opportunity scheme for impaired peoples” because of the way he has seen opportunities to view and interact with the world in different ways as he actively learns to live with his condition. Daily creative and intellectual conversations about how he is experiencing his life and sharing those insights (pun intended) is vital for Alan’s continuing mental health Thanks, Alan for sharing your journey and I’m looking forward to your next visit to the gallery.
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The Story of a Photographic Fine Art Collector
Dr Gary Willis, one of Australia’s leading art theorists has drawn my attention to a short video by one of the world’s leading photographic art collectors. W. M. Hunt talks about why he became a collector of photography and how he goes about collecting. A fascinating expose for those who might be considering collecting in this medium
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Serendipity Strikes, Again!
Sometimes the world conspires to be kind to you!! I was in the middle of explaining my artwork to a couple who had just walked into the gallery. They were enthusiastic and that tends to make me more loquacious. Suddenly, the woman quite rightly interrupted me and said “My husband is the publisher of Photo Review and he won’t tell you that because he is not prone to self -promotion.” I stopped in my tracks. Photo Review is certainly one of the oldest photo magazines in Australia being continually published monthly for 27 years and, by reputation, purportedly the most prestigious photographic publication in Australia. I paused, reflected. Shut up and listen my brain commanded me. Almost an hour later, David, publisher of Photo Review and Belinda Sullivan left the gallery with the promise of a visit by the editor of the magazine, Don Norris to see whether Don might see the same uniqueness in my art David had and whether he might be interested writing an article about this uniqueness. I sat back at my desk, exhilarated. To have your endeavors and artworks recognized as being unique by your peers such as the owner of one of the leading publications and influences in the photographic world in Australia is the ultimate endorsement creatively. Here is the link to read the leading story in Photo Review’s May 2022 Issue. Thank you Don Norris for the most intelligent encapsulation of my journey and work to date. Enjoy the reading the article. PS. David Sullivan acquired the Flight into Blue
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Rothko, Residency, Russia
Mark Rothko Arts Centre, Daugavpils, Latvia Surely, I must be the only artist in Australia who has been offered a 3-month residency/exhibition on the Russian border since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. It is in the Mark Rothko Arts Centre, Daugavpils, Latvia (formerly Dvinsk, USSR) and the birthplace of Mark Rothko. I was originally offered this residency in 2020 after his daughter, Kate Rothko, Chair, the Rothko Foundation, had seen my work in 2018 whilst being exhibited in Riga. Covid-19 forced the cancellation of the residency and I didn't think I would be included in the Centre's new re-worked cultural programme as its cultural remit is for the Baltics and Central Asian artists.However thanks to my art consultant Vineta Ungailo's ongoing representations, I received an email on Monday confirming a new residency/exhibition arrangement from March through to May 2023. The Mark Rothko Arts Centre is housed in a 14th Century Russian fortress on the Latvian side of the Russian border. Hopefully the cannon is pointing in the right direction whatever that is..... Untitled Red (1953) - Rothko The Redness in Reflection 1 (2019) - Kerle Gold Embraces Blue - Kerle (2017)Yellow and Blue Untitled (1953) - Rothko Rothko and the Colour Field I only became aware of Mark Rothko’s work and history when a member of the public walked into my gallery at the Intercontinental Hotel Sydney, pointed to my work the Water Line on the wall and asked how much the Rothko was. He looked askance when I told him the price. "Rothko's work sells for $80million and above. This must be a fake" he said. I didn’t know who Rothko was.Subsequently I researched and became familiar with Mark Rothko’s body of works and I am honored to be even mentioned in the same breath.The above examples of Rothko's most famous artworks alongside my documentary photographs reveal how colour and surface flatness, the basic elements of colour field painting, can be re-interpreted with a close up photograph of Nature's creation - reflections on the surface of the water - a prime source for any colour field.
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Take A Quick Trip Inside the Latest Ralph Kerle Gallery
For those of you who haven't visited the new Ralph Kerle Gallery at 63 the Corso, Manly, Sydney Australia, or who simply wont be able to, I've made a short handheld social media style film so you can see what the new gallery looks like.
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My Favourite Artwork - the Flight into Blue
The Flight into Blue - 100 x 120 Regularly I am asked what my favourite artwork is and my response is always the same – my most recent work. Each new set of photographs challenges me because of what they potentially offer. When I know intuitively I have a new work from a set, it is an epiphany. I guard these epiphanous moments with great care because I never know whether there will be any more. That is the excitement in creativity! Each new work reveals itself very differently though. Sometimes the photograph offers an embellishment of an established theme or style in my work such as the Land Escape series.. Sometimes it is just a single photograph that stares straight back at me and dares me not to crop or straighten it in any way. This breakthrough moment of clarity is exhilarating!! The Original Photograph More rarely, another mode of invention for a new work evolves out of a slow smoulder with a prospective client’s unintentional comment or suggestion. Whilst,the client was viewing the work “What To Call It”, she remarked she liked the colour in the work, yet wondered if I might remove the word, in other words, Photoshop the word “”Imagine” out. I am quite strict about not using Photoshop on any of my works so I suggested I might seek out the original shots from this day’s shoot to see what was in the vault. The result is my current favourite work - the Flight into Blue and I am thankful the prospective client in a creative conversation opened my mind to new possibilities in my work. I love these types of conversations. Creativity often comes an incidental aside and can become the basis of a very satisfying collaboration. The more I cropped and moved into the original photograph, the more my brain began to see the works of the modern masters such as the founder of the French Impressionist movement, Claude Monet’s wonderful reflections on the water. Van Gogh and the deep blues in his work made a strong appearance and it was French Nouveau Realist painter Yves Klein who said “Blue has no dimension, it is “beyond dimensions”..Klein invented and patented what is today known as the International Yves Klein Blue, the colour force in the Flight into Blue. Very rarely does a work surface such a combination of influences..Will I find something to match this? What To Call It?
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Showcasing with Leading Latvian Interior Designer, Elina Yukuma
Leading Latvian interior designer, Elina Yukuma, recently re-located to London, has included two of my works, Inner Estuaries 1 and Water Notation Reflection 1 in a showcase for luxury apartment development Moho Park in Riga, Latvia. I was introduced to Elina’s work via Vineta Ungailo, art consultant from Arte Tre Ta and it is an honour to be collaborating with Elina. You can see more of Elina’s completed projects and more about Elina’s philosophy here. Full details and stories about the works can be viewed here. Water Reflection Notation 1 - 90 x 112cm Inner Estuaries 1 - 105 x 160
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