Patrick Shirvington I LIKE EMUS – EMUS LIKE ME

Current Exhibitions

2 Mar

Written By Issy Le B

Patrick Shirvington

I LIKE EMUS – EMUS LIKE ME

13 March – 5 April 2025

Art Atrium 48 proudly presents Patrick Shirvington’s latest exhibition, I LIKE EMUS – EMUS LIKE ME, a captivating series of works inspired by his 2022 artist residency in the remote northwest of New South Wales. Over the course of a month in Sturt National Park, Shirvington immersed himself in the arid landscape, refining his practice in response to the natural rhythms of the environment and the quiet, yet playful presence of its inhabitants.

"In 2022 I was awarded a residency in the far north west of NSW. Over four weeks I observed the arid landscape of Sturt National Park. I had a vague idea of what the area would present to me as subject matter, and as the hours passed, whether it be my observation in full sun or shadow or into the night there was something else that wasn’t just the bushland. To my delight through every hour of change there was an ever-present movement through the stillness, a broken moment as nature moved to the soft rhythm of the Emu. These are the things unseen.

Over the next few weeks I observed these great creatures crossing before me from sunrise, under different skies through to twilight, with slow meandering steps, then suddenly.. startled…they would dash around in comic fashion as though begging for my attention. An inquisitive creature they would gradually make their way towards me to observe my activity…then dash off in a flurry of dust.”

Patrick Shirvington started his journey as an artist in 1975, when he began painting full time. In the following two years, he travelled through Europe and the USA and participated in drawing classes at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière, Paris. He completed his Masters of Cross Disciplinary Art & Design at the University of NSW in 2015. Patrick Shirvington has been a finalist in the Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing in 2011, 2012, 2019, 2020 Kedumba Drawing Award in 2003, 2006 & 2009, Paddington Art Prize 2018, NSW Parliament Plein Air Prize, Korean Australian Art Foundation ( KAAF ) 2017, 2019, 2022, 2024; the Archibald Prize in 1999 as well as numerous other art prizes. His work is in the collection of Edogowa Museum, Osaka, Japan, Kedumba Drawing Collection, Hawkesbury Regional Gallery, Macquarie University, Arthur Boyd Bundanon Collection, Adelaide Perry Gallery Collection, NSW Library, Sydney, Australian Stock Exchange as well as various corporate and private collections. Patrick is an accomplished children’s book illustrator, having five books published including Can You Find Me?, written by Dr. Gordon Winch, being shortlisted for the Wilderness Society Environment Award for Picture Books (Australia), a CBCA Notable book, and nominated for the Crichton Award for illustration. Patrick’s books have now been published worldwide, including translation into Chinese. In 2025 Patrick was awarded an Australia Day honour for his environmental work through his art projects.

Exhibition Opening

Thursday 13 March 2025
6:00 - 8:00 pm

Exhibition Opening to be launched by:

Rhonda Davis
Senior curator at Macquarie University Art Gallery

Events:

Artist Workshop with Patrick Shirvington

Patrick Shirvington’s artwork has always been deeply embedded in drawing. He has been documenting his journey through the natural world for over forty years, recording his observations with pencil on paper to reflect his veneration of the environment. Along the way Patrick has received many accolades pertaining to his excellence in drawing. His works are represented in many drawing collections such as the Kedumba Drawing Collection, which John Olsen describes as the most representative collection of drawings of this period, in this country. Two works are included in the Arthur Boyd, Bundanon Collection.

Patrick will be presenting a drawing workshop using the simple tools of pencil and paper. The participants will hone their skill of observation through seeing the subject, unencumbered by what we think we see, but searching out the UNSEEN.

All essential materials will be provided