Don’t Wish These Days Away

We are thrilled to announce the next major solo exhibition from British-born, Sydney-based artist Nicola Woodcock, Don’t Wish These Days Away, opening this September in the GROUND FLOOR gallery.

In this series, Woodcock focuses on the striking landscapes that edge the Hawkesbury River, drawing on photographs and memories from family weekend trips. Sweeping vistas and intimate still-life studies of native flora speak to crisp winter days, where wattle and banksia punctuate overcast skies with bursts of colour.

Woodcock’s burgeoning affinity for native Australian plant life dates back to her first trip here as a backpacker almost 25 years ago. “A pivotal moment occurred when I encountered a Margaret Preston print gracing the kitchen wall of one of my accommodations,” she says. “The experience left an indelible impression.”

“My pursuit of understanding and venerating Australian natives deepens through meticulously rendering their forms in oil pastel. This medium, demanding rapid execution and minimalistic precision, allows me to encapsulate the essence of the botanical specimens. The objective is to provide an authentic representation – not a pursuit of scientific precision but an endeavour to evoke sentiments of awe, gratitude and comfort.”