Rone is one of Australia’s most accomplished modern painters. Originally part of Melbourne’s early 2000s fledgling street art movement, the artist is now a fixture on the international street art scene, renowned for his large-scale wall paintings and immersive installations exploring beauty and decay.
A retrospective of Rone’s work to date has been long overdue, and who better to host this but Geelong Gallery, located in the town where the artist was born and raised.
Opening this weekend, Rone in Geelong features a new site-specific installation incorporating his signature painted murals, inspired by the architecture of the building. The entire installation and has been developed in partnership with his regular collaborator interior stylist Carly Spooner, and composer Nick Batterham.
This project also sees Rone’s reengagement with artworks he visited in his youth, such as the gallery’s iconic A bush burial by Frederick McCubbin (1890).
‘Working in my home town is special. I had to leave to come back, but Geelong Gallery has given me the recognition to further my career – my first institutional solo exhibition. Geelong has done that for me,’ Rone says. ‘My show is an ode to abandoned spaces and a reminder to value the original treasures they once were.’
A comprehensive survey of Rone’s career to date will also be on show in the exhibition, charting the artist’s practice from early stencil works and street art, to photographs (including an exclusive 3D recreation) of major installations such as the sell-out 2019 event ‘Empire’ at Burnham Beeches.
Through the support of the Victorian government, Geelong Gallery will extend its opening hours during ‘Rone in Geelong’ from 10am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday.
‘Rone in Geelong’ at Geelong Gallery
Saturday February 27-Sunday May 16 2021
Monday-Saturday, 10am-7pm & Sunday 10am-5pm
Tickets on sale now
Rone at ‘Rone in Geelong’ (Geelong Gallery, 2021). Photographer – Tony Mott. © Rone
Rone in Geelong: installation in progress (Geelong Gallery, 2021). Photographer – Tony Mott. © Rone
Rone in Geelong: the making of (Geelong Gallery, 2021). Photographer – Tony Mott. © Rone
Rone and set builder Callum Preston behind the scenes, Rone in Geelong: the making of (Geelong Gallery, 2021). Photographer – Tony Mott. © Rone
Set dresser/stylist Carly Spooner behind the scenes at Rone in Geelong (Geelong Gallery, 2021). Photographer – Tony Mott. © Rone
Rone in Geelong: the making of (Geelong Gallery, 2021). Photographer – Tony Mott. © Rone
Rone in Geelong: installation in progress (Geelong Gallery, 2021). Photographer – Tony Mott. © Rone
Rone in Geelong: installation in progress (Geelong Gallery, 2021). Photographer – Tony Mott. © Rone
Rone in Geelong: the making of (Geelong Gallery, 2021). Photographer – Tony Mott. © Rone
