John R. Neeson: Available Light

Available Light is a project by John R. Neeson that involves the public presentation of his work during production—as a work-in-process—followed by an exhibition period in which the finished works are presented as a site-specific installation. The ‘residency’ was carried out during Museum opening hours with visitors being given the opportunity to observe Neeson as he works and, during the artist’s absence, enter the artist’s studio space and follow the process of creation through a diary of images and notations. Neeson has created an online diary of the progress of the work on his website.

The project builds on a practice of ‘venue specific projects’ which the artist initiated in 1993 at the Linden Contemporary Art Centre in St Kilda. To date, Neeson has completed 27 similar venue specific installations of representational works in which he scrutinises the changing of light, the passing of time and the architectural details of his surrounds. For Available Light, the artist utilises easels, mirrors and paintings to respond to both the interior of TarraWarra Museum of Art and aspects of the landscape beyond.

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body. This project has been assisted by the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy, an initiative of the Australian, State and Territory Governments.