Abstract artist’s double display

THE downstairs corridor at Trades Hall has been adorned with new splashes of colour with the latest rotation of works from creatives from the Ballarat Society of Artists.

Installed last week, the latest exhibition’s features seven lino prints from Denise Adams, four paintings from Gayle Toering and six digital abstract prints from Kirk Alexander.

Alexander, who became an artist more than three years ago after decades as a professional actor, said his pieces provide a nice balance to his colleagues’ more conventional works.

“It’s a considerable contrast,” he said.” I did a lot of work with pens, textas, and loved working with them. I’m pretty different to their styles.

“There’s no theme behind our displaying works. For me I’m an abstract artist. I just have an idea and I create it, I don’t go into depth.”

Alexander previously took part in the BSA’s exhibition at the Mercure and Trades Hall show is coinciding with his first local solo exhibition at the Tin Roof Cafe.

His turn as an artist in 2019 signalled his becoming a BSA member and moving to Ballarat from Melbourne, which he said is an artistic mecca in Victoria.

“There’s a lot of art done in this area, so I thought it would be the perfect place to come,” he said.

“We also exhibited at the Art Space during Heritage Week. Our exhibitions are bringing a hell of a lot of variety to the public.

“I think people visiting or wandering the city expect Ballarat to provide street art and we really do as much as we can.”

Each work at Trades Hall is for sale, with the exhibition’s current rotation set to run until Friday, 28 April.