At the Gallery - Bill Henson - But is it really Spring?

Is it really Spring? It did seem that most of the young and stylish attending the Bill Henson 2012 show at Roslyn Oxley 9 gallery last night were placing an each-way-bet on what season it might really be; that the chill of Winter might put in an appearance before the night was out, but then again, it might really be Spring.. It was however I am pleased to say, peace and love all evening long; and although Bill Henson has returned to working the Nude form; there was, no controversy this time around. Which is as it should be when the work is done with something at its very heart, something that is seldom talked about these days. That thing is Taste. Or, to be more precise; Good Taste. Now that's not a phrase you really here any more is it, it's all art theory and stuff to make your eyeballs roll back into your head 'please no more art theory, we surrender!'

And good taste has a long history, it was what you needed as a musical performer in the classical period; sure most of the pieces by Mozart or Handel were written out in musical notation you could follow; but there were little unwritten tests; like the trill, or how well you extemporised on a theme - no matter what or how you did it, you must, to achieve greatness, do it with taste! Good taste. Forget art theory, Bill Henson continues to take on classical themes including the nude and extemporises on those themes as fairly few can; never a cliché, true and well felt; always in good taste. Just go and see the work for yourself.

But what of the trendy art and fashion set I hear you ask, well here they are, in all their glory, and all I can say is, damn you Melbourne weather, how dare you spoil our Sydney fun! Ummm, maybe Bill brought the weather with him!

www.roslynoxley9.com.au/

Bill Henson : Untiltled 2010

Last night I had my first chance to attend a Bill Henson opening. Yes I am a fan, yes I have been following him since the early 80s & love his work. I am certainly not alone there; this was the biggest crowd I have ever seen at Roslyn Oxley9 and possibly the biggest opening crowd I have seen outside a major art event.

The show was opened by Edmund Capon and I was fortunate enough to witness a rather beautiful moment on E.C.s arrival. Quite a wonderful greeting, Bill, Edmund, Roslyn; at the top of the stairs, a show of intimate solidarity. Then everyone that could made there way toward the already very full main gallery. Edmund gave an inspired speech reported in part in the Sydney Morning Herald Here & Here. I am not sure about Miranda Devine's comment in the SMH about no cameras in the gallery. I waved my G10 around over my 6'4" head and no-one said boo to me!

E.C. set the record straight right off the bat with, in a nutshell something like,

They are big, they all have the same title (untitled) and they are 30K each. They are beautiful, they speak to us and they are not porn (they never have been).

The show is beautiful. Some critics seem to be making with the idea that the show is turned down. I think Bill has always been about beauty and the volume has been turned up! Yes, I got a bit of a feeling of, well just can't say it... OK a big FU to those who think the work is just about nudes. But I can't imagine Bill actually saying that.

It's a brilliant show. The prints are his first using digital printing technology which is quite significant in and of itself. Master prints of course.

Roslyn Oxley9 Go see it for yourself till June 5.