Susan & Peter

O ’ D o h e r t yM o v i n g H o u s e

I thought how unpleasant it is to be locked out; and I thought how it is worse, perhaps, to be locked in Virginia Woolf

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Susan O’Doherty Moving House 2013 mixed media assemblage 110 x 63 x 20cm

Peter O’Doherty Corner House Curl Curl 2013 acrylic on canvas 136 x 122cm

Susan & PeterO’DohertyM o v i n g H o u s e

Peter & Susan O’DohertyThe iconography of the familiar

“...places borrowed, not places possessed.” Julie Beck 2011

The house as shelter is fundamental to every culture; its boundaries, the dividing line with the external world. Personified as female - the enclosing maternal aspect - the house is also a metaphor for self; an association teased out by Susan and Peter O’Doherty, in the series of works entitled ‘Moving House.’ The O’Dohertys have lived and worked side by side for more than 20 years. Raised in the 1960s and 70s, they share influences from pop art and culture, and a fascination with the depersonalized icons of Australian suburbia. Both relate their persistent enquiry of these icons to the impermanence of their respective upbringings, with families who moved from one temporary residence to another. Both cite their mothers as key figures in the process.

Exterior/interior - the revealed and the hidden. These are inverse visions; the one portraying soft-focus opaque facades; the other, hard-edged interior details. But despite these polarities, there is much in common. External and internal windows are equally impenetrable. Exteriors and interiors are static, held in place by repeated patterns and motifs. Both visions are devoid of human presence even while it is suggested by empty chairs, a ruffled curtain, a half-open blind.

In one sense, Peter O’Doherty’s houses are an hommage to his father’s craft and his capacity to build the same kind of structure, again and again. Yet, there remains a sense of exclusion, a passive inability to enter, enhanced by the close toned use of colour. The structures are seen in sunlight that peoples the facades with cast shadows suggesting different times of day. It plays across the delicate fretwork of a cast iron rail, the rectangles of door, wall and roof. It infuses the works with a sense of veneration, yet still they remain inaccessible; a window into times lost.

The pop-up culture of the 1950s is represented in various fibro bungalows. Other structures feature an elevated timber Queenslander or a solid red brick house. One sports a striped canvas blind; another, a decorative motif or recessed arch. Yet another evokes the P&O Ocean Liner style, with the words ‘One-O-One’ emblazoned across the entrance. Several houses present ‘the outside room’, the patio or recessed verandah – familiar images to all who were spawned in suburbia. The houses move with the times even while they remain exactly the same.

Susan O’Doherty’s interiors reflect a similar preoccupation with different eras of vernacular architec-ture; the pre-made environments that offer few concessions to families passing through. In her interiors, objects become the focus of attention in rooms that reflect different aspects of the self. There are windows but no vistas and for the occupants, little opportunity for escape.

A cold forensic light unveils the domestic hierarchy, regimented by patterns of tiles or wallpaper and the horizontals of closed venetian blinds. Here, the modern world has also intruded in the shape of typewriters, telephones and an electric radio. Milk is spilt and scissors lie idle, while leadlight glass and filigree air vents suggest the secluded atmosphere of purdah. In the children’s room, mutilated dolls, with electric sockets in their bellies suggest a fearful existence. Images of time passing are represented by the ever present shape of clocks and other measuring implements – a set of scales, a tape meas-ure, the digital hieroglyphs of dominos.

Two of the images are invaded by a ‘human’ found object – a disembodied female hand, with blazing red fingernails. In one work, it holds the ready-made house/s on a metaphorical string, ready to pack up shop and move on to the next dwelling. In the other, in a semi-obscene gesture, it has one finger stuck up a soft drink bottle, with a domino shoved into its vacant wrist.

Pop culture celebrated standardization as a world where everyone could have the same things, and live in the same houses, and eat the same food, and drink the same drinks. The Australian interpreta-tion added the quarter acre block, plus suburban bungalow, as the acme of material success. In this current work, Susan and Peter O’Doherty offer an eloquent refutation of the Australian dream. There is reverence for the remembered details of childhood but also a sense of time trapped inside unyielding structures. In this context, their reconfiguration of their nomadic childhoods is an act of possession.

Elizabeth ButelAuthor and Editor

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Peter O’Doherty Townsville Frontage 2013 acrylic on canvas 30 x 30cm

Susan O’Doherty Townsville Study 2013 mixed media assemblage 120 x 129 x 16cm

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Peter O’Doherty Earlwood Red Brick 2013 acrylic on canvas 122 x 152cm

Susan O’Doherty Earlwood Kitchen 2013 mixed media assemblage 120 x 130 x 20cm

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Peter O’Doherty Malabar Patio 2008 acrylic on canvas 152 x 152cm

Susan O’Doherty Blacktown Laundry/Toilet 2013 mixed media assemblage 120 x 110 x 16cm

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Peter O’Doherty Auckland Fibro 2008 acrylic on canvas 122 x 122cm

Susan O’Doherty Gardenvale Sewing Room 2013 mixed media assemblage 130 x 120 x 15cm

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Peter O’Doherty One O One 2008 acrylic on canvas 152 x 152cm

Susan O’Doherty Darwin Nursery 2013 mixed media sssemblage 130 x 120 x 14cm

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Peter O’Doherty Kingscliff Bungalow 2010 acrylic on canvas 122 x 152cm

Susan O’Doherty Ocean Grove Bedroom 2013 mixed media assemblage 120 x 130 x 21cm

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Peter O’Doherty Caringbah Red Brick 2013 acrylic on canvas 31 x 31cm

Susan O’Doherty Randwick Dining Room 2013 mixed media assemblage 120 x 140 x 20cm

Peter O’Doherty Side Entrance Lithgow 2010 acrylic on canvas 61 x 61cm

Peter O’Doherty Gold Coast Fibro 2010 acrylic on canvas 31 x 31cm

Peter O’Doherty Woy Woy Fibro 2001 acrylic on canvas 40 x 40cm

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Peter O’Doherty Penrith Blue Fibro 2013 acrylic on canvas 122 x 122cm

Susan O’Doherty Shopping List 2013 mixed media assemblage 120 x 160 x 20cm

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Peter O’Doherty Lithgow Chimney 2009 acrylic on canvas 46 x 46cm

Susan O’Doherty Spilt Milk 2013 mixed media assemblage 50 x 61 x 9cm

Susan O’Doherty Egg Cups 2012 mixed media assemblage 48 x 45 x 10cm

Peter O’DohertyRepresented by King Street Gallery on William

Born 1958 Auckland, New Zealand

Solo Exhibitions

2012 In Conversation King Street Gallery on William, Sydney2010 Canvas and Paper King Street Gallery on William, Sydney 2010 North and South Doggett Street Studio, Brisbane 2009 New Paintings King Street Gallery on William2008 Malabar Sydney Grammar School, Sydney2007 Built Up NG Art Gallery, Sydney2006 Interiors/Exteriors Mary Place Gallery, Sydney2005 Paintings Span Galleries, Melbourne2004 Peter O’Doherty Gadfly Gallery, Perth New Works Barry Stern Galleries, Sydney2003 New Paintings Barry Stern Galleries Recent Paintings Doggett Street, Brisbane2002 New Paintings Barry Stern Galleries New Paintings Jackman Gallery, Melbourne Peter & Susan O’Doherty Bowen Gallery, Wellington, NZ2001 Recent Paintings Barry Stern Galleries Recent Paintings Doggett Street Gallery, Brisbane Recent Paintings Jackman Gallery2000 Recent Paintings Mary Place Gallery Recent Paintings Jackman Gallery Recent Paintings Mary Place Gallery1999 Paintings Jackman Gallery1998 Paintings Atrium Gallery, Sydney1997 Recent Paintings Mary Place Gallery1996 Paintings Mary Place Gallery1993 Peter O’Doherty POD Gallery, Sydney

Selected Group Exhibitions

2013 In/Two Art Wollongong Art Gallery2013 Mosman Art Prize2013 The Hazelhurst Works on Paper 2013 In/Two Art Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery 2013 In/Two Art Goulburn Regional Art Gallery2012 In/Two Art Orange Regional Art Gallery2012 In/Two Art SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney2012 The Animal Show King Street Gallery on William, Sydney 2011 Double Vision ( with Chris O’Doherty/Reg Mombassa ), Australian Print Workshop, Melbourne2010 In/Two Art Maitland Regional Art Gallery2008 Urban King Street Gallery on William2007 Alan Gamble Memorial Art Prize Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney2006 Group Show Heiser Gallery, Brisbane Painted Egg Charity auction for Sydney Children’s Hospital Sydney Art Fair Fox Studios, Sydney2005 Salon Des Refuses Exhibition SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney Paddington Art Prize Marlene Antico Fine Arts, Sydney2004 Dublin Art Fair Dublin, Ireland2003 Salon Des Refuses Exhibition2002 Salon Des Refuses Exhibition2001 Salon Des Refuses Exhibition Sulman Prize Exhibition Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney ANCA Gallery, Canberra Urban Dreams Bartley Drey Gallery, London, UK1999 Salon Des Refuses Exhibition Black and white painting show Level Gallery, Sydney1998 Group Show [with Mental As Anything], Chapel off Chapel Gallery Melbourne; Grafton Regional Art Gallery, Grafton; Manning Regional Art Gallery, Taree; Tamworth Regional Art Gallery, Tamworth; Orange Regional Gallery, Orange; Wollongong City Gallery, Wollongong, NSW Redlands Westpac Art Prize Mosman Art Gallery1997 Redlands Westpac Art Prize Mosman Art Gallery Salon Des Refuses Exhibition Group show [with Mental As Anything] Manly Art Gallery and Museum, Sydney1995 Guitar Shaped World Tamworth Regional Art Gallery1993 Mentals II [with Mental As Anything], Tamworth Regional Art Gallery, Lismore Regional Gallery Mentals II Westpac Gallery, Melbourne

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Prizes, Awards & Residencies

2011 Winner Alan Gamble Memorial Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney 2009 Artists in Residence [Taronga Foundation Program], Taronga Zoo, Sydney2008 Art Fellow, Artist’s Residency, Sydney Grammar School, Sydney2007 Winner Alan Gamble Memorial Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney2005 Winner Paddington Art Prize, Marlene Antico Fine Arts, Sydney

Press

2012 Coote, Maree: The Art Of Being Melbourne, published by Melbourne Style Books2010 Schwartzkoff, Louise: ‘Collective Vision’, Arts and Entertainment, SMH, March 20-212009 ‘Australia Day 2009, Beach Life’ SMH, Jan 26 Meacham, Steve: ‘Oh if I could just chalk with the animals,’ SMH, Feb 28-Mar 1 Meacham, Steve: ‘A sleepless lion, three giraffes and one for the birds,’ News SMH, May 202007 Bevan, Scott: Interview-The 7.30 Report, Jan 9 Faine, Jon & Hutchinson, Tracee: Lisa Miller & Peter O’Doherty, ABC Melbourne Features, Apr 172006 Lobley, Katrina: ‘Events-Peter O’Doherty,’ Domain-SMH, Apr 27 Lacey, Stephen: ‘Eclectic as anything,’ Domain-SMH, Mar 92005 Backhouse, Megan: ‘Uncommon ground,‘ The Critics-The Australian Fortescue, Elizabeth: The Daily Telegraph, Apr 16 Ellis, Shaun: ‘Mental as any outback,’ Wentworth Courier, Dec2004 Zampatti, Lesley: Gadfly ‘Peter O’Doherty,’ boxoffice, thesydneymagazine2002 Zuel, Bernard: ‘Sentimental as anything,’ SMH, June 29 Cardy, Tom: ‘Wedded to their art,’ The Evening Post, Apr 182000 Richards, Morgan: ‘Familiar Chords,’ Monument, Issue 35, Apr/May Smee, Sebastian: ‘Gentle as Anything,’ SMH, May ‘Investing in Art-Target an emerging Australian,’ The Age, Aug 14 Richards, Morgan: ‘Familiar Chords,’ Monument, Iss 35, Apr-May

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Peter O’Doherty Wollongong Frontage 2013 acrylic on canvas 31 x 31cm

Susan O’DohertyRepresented by NG Art Gallery

Born 1960 Brisbane

Solo Exhibitions

2012 Nature of Time. NG Art Gallery, Sydney 2012 Time Pieces, Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne2011 It’s a Man’s World, NG Art Gallery, Sydney2010 The Perfect Woman, NG Art Gallery, Sydney2009 900 Eyes, Maitland Regional Art Gallery2009 900 Eyes, Tweed River Regional Art Gallery2008 900 Eyes / Domestic Lives, Manly Regional Art Gallery and Museum2005 Barry Stern Galleries, Sydney2005 Span Galleries, Melbourne2004 Gadfly Gallery, Perth2004 Barry Stern Galleries, Sydney2003 Barry Stern Galleries, Sydney2003 Doggett Street Studios, Brisbane2002 Barry Stern Galleries, Sydney2002 Doggett Street Studios, Brisbane2002 Jackman Gallery, Melbourne2002 Bowen Galleries, Wellington, New Zealand2001 Barry Stern Galleries, Sydney2001 Jackman Gallery, Melbourne2001 Doggett Street Studios, Brisbane2000 Mary Place Gallery, Sydney2000 Jackman Gallery, Melbourne1999 Atrium Gallery, ABC Building, Sydney1999 Jackman Gallery, Melbourne1999 Mary Place Gallery, Sydney1998 Mary Place Gallery, Sydney1998 Atrium Gallery, ABC Building, Sydney

Selected Group Exhibitions

2013 In Two-Art, Wollongong Art Gallery2013 Diarama, Wollongong Art Gallery2013 In Two-Art, Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery2013 In Two-Art, Goulburn Regional Art Gallery2012 In Two Art, Orange Regional Gallery2012 In Two Art, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney2012 The Animal Show, King Street Gallery on William, Sydney2011 Distant Bridges – Amnesty International, NG Art Gallery, Sydney2011 Stations of the Cross, St Ives Uniting Church2010 In Two Art, Maitland Regional Art Gallery2009 ReImag(in)ing SomaSex, Maquarie University Art Gallery, Sydney2009 Mosman Art Prize, Sydney2009 Taronga Zoo ( Sydney ) – Artist in Residence2009 A Bar Called Home, NG Art Gallery, Sydney2006 Cadrys Art Prize, Sydney2006 Joshua Holland Leukemia Fund Art Auction, Sydney2006 Conservatorium of Music Art Auction, Sydney2005 Cadrys Art Prize, Sydney2004 Dublin Art Fair, Ireland2004 Mosman Art Prize, Sydney2004 Norvill Art Prize, Sydney2003 Mosman Art Prize, Sydney2003 Sceggs Redlands Westpac Art Prize, Sydney2001 ANCA Gallery, Canberra2000 Mosman Art Prize1998 Sceggs Redlands Westpac Art Prize

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Susan O’Doherty

Publications

2012 Catalogue – Nature of Time, essay ‘A Poetic Thrift’ Anita Taylor2012 Collectomania ( (Collecting Contemporary Art) Claudia Chan Shaw2012 Lynne Dwyer The Spectrum (Open Gallery, Sydney Morning Herald) Sept 8-9 2011 Andrew Frost, It’s a Man’s World, Sydney Morning Herald, June 32011 Artist Profile Magazine, Process - Susan O’Doherty, Issue 15, May2011 Andrew Frost, Metro Art, Sydney Morning Herald, June 232011 Leesa Smith, Gender War Shown in Art, The Southern Courier, May 242011 Elizabeth Fortescue, Man That’s So True, Daily Telegraph, May 302011 The Spectrum Open Gallery, Sydney Morning Herald, June 4-52011 Ashleigh Wilson, Artist’s Capture the Pain in Asylum Plight, SMH, Jan 182010 Raylene Bliss, Plastic Not So Fantastic, Concrete Playground, March 282010 Lissa Christopher, Open Gallery, SMH, April 10-11 2010 Steve Dow, A Toy Story With a Twist, The Big Picture, The Sun Herald, March 28 2010 Hannah Gadsby Goes Domestic, Artscape ABC1, July2010 Annemarie Lopez, The Perfect Woman, The Sydney Magazine, SMH, Issue 84, April2009 Sam Rigney, All Eyes On Maitland Gallery New Work, Maitland Mercury, Oct 232009 Marina Saint Martin, 900 Eyes, Paradise Magazine, Gold Coast Bulletin, June 262009 Kristie Lau, Waiting, a Still Life, Arts, Sun Herald, June 262009 Steve Meacham, One For The Birds (Taronga Zoo Artist in Residence), SMH, May 202009 Aparha Khopkar, A Bar To Call Home, Visual Arts, SMH, April 92008 Rod Bennett, The Changing Faces Of Art, The Manly Daily, Dec 12 2008 Katrina Lobley, A Sea Of Faces, Spectrum, Sydney Morning Herald, Nov 292006 Stephen Lacey, Peter and Susan O’Doherty, Arts, Sydney Morning Herald, March 92005 Elizabeth Fortescue, Show Of Harmony, The Daily Telegraph, Sept 232004 Cover Artwork and page 46, Glorious Gloom, Australian Art Revue, Issue 05, July – Oct2002 Diana Simmonds, Ideas For Artists To Canvas, Sunday Telegraph, June 92002 Tom Cardy, Wedded To Their Art, Evening Post , Wellington New Zealand, April 181999 Catherine Lambert, Mind Over New Matter, Arts Section, Sun Herald, Aug 11998 Julia Richardson, At Ease, Our House Magazine, April1997 Jennifer Reed, Artful Design, Tempo, Sun Herald, Nov 21997 Peter Cochrane, Metro Arts, Sydney Morning Herald, July 121997 Bronwyn Mailing, Portrait Of The Artist, Country Looks Magazine, April1997 Michael Smith, Art For Art’s Sake, Drum Media, April 18

Moving House Touring ExhibitionCowra Regional Art Gallery 8 February - 16 March 2014Gosford Regional Gallery 5 April - 18 May 2014

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Susan O’Doherty Soft Drinks 2012 mixed media assemblage 65 x 76 x 8cm

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