These summer holidays, gather the family or your art-loving friends and take a trip to Bendigo Art Gallery, to discover an exciting exhibition featuring Casual Guy, (pictured here) by artist Rob McHaffie.
Casual Guy, a bright, colourful and whimsical piece, currently on loan to Bendigo Art Gallery, is part of the City of Stonnington’s Contemporary Art Collection.
This major exhibition at Bendigo Art Gallery looks at the recent works of McHaffie, an Australian artist based in central Victoria and brings together key works spanning two decades of his practice, alongside a new body of work.
McHaffie was the winner of the Geelong Gallery’s biennial acquisitive award for contemporary painting, which showcases the best of contemporary Australian painting practice.
Casual Guy was acquired by the City of Stonnington in late 2014. Recommended by the Art Acquisitions Advisory Committee at the time, the work has been a community favourite since being acquired for the collection.
When the City of Stonnington received a request by Bendigo Art Gallery to loan the artwork for a major survey exhibition, the Stonnington team was excited to contribute to the largest collection of McHaffie’s artwork in a public institution.
McHaffie’s distinctive approach to painting involves collaging or many elements to create identifiable people and scenarios.
His artworks are always perceptive reflections on the paradoxes of contemporary life. His works are refreshingly playful and poignant, with the artist having a keen eye for the poetic and prophetic moments of everyday life.
McHaffie’s paintings carry a personal and diaristic element, recording the world around him. Trust, love and spirituality are key recurring themes in his works.
“I thought I could paint the world how it is or how it could be, with the hope that if I paint it how it could be then maybe it will head in that direction,” says McHaffie.
This collaborative approach is a great way to share art with our community, local and afar, build connections and foster an appreciation of the arts in general with local and regional communities.
To loan artworks to an institution for an exhibition reflects the significance of the artworks in our collection and promotes it to a broader audience.
The initiative is a great way to share art and build connections with our community, local and afar and also inspire an appreciation of art within our local and regional communities.
Over the last five years, the City of Stonnington has been invited to loan artworks to the Art Gallery of NSW, Buxton Contemporary and the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Gallery of Victoria.
We recognise that the arts, culture and creativity are at the heart of the health, wellbeing and prosperity of our community and invite you to go to Bendigo to experience some amazing art, including Casual Guy.
Rob McHaffie: We are family
On now until 27 January 2025
Free exhibition
Bendigo Art Gallery
42 View Street, Bendigo
Monday to Sunday: 10am to 5pm (closed Christmas Day)
To learn more about our visual arts program, visit stonnington.vic.gov.au/Community/Arts-and-culture
