Fireworks Gallery will be presenting two new exhibitions; Eternity by renowned artist Andrew Arnaoutopoulos comprises of recent paintings and installations displayed in the mezzanine gallery, in contrast to a group exhibition of paintings and sculptures titled Recollections I: Secondary Market Gems: Utopia & Beyond on the ground floor.

Arnaoutopoulos, who is being exhibited for the first time at FireWorks gallery, has invited Nicholas Tsoutas as the curator; both boast distinguished professional careers in contemporary art spanning decades. Two individual paintings will be displayed, one titled as the exhibition, Eternity 2022 (FW21514), as well as four ‘clusters’ of paintings masterfully configured and poetically (re)imagined by Tsoutas for this exhibition. The largest is samos blue cluster (FW21544, FW21513) which references Arnaoutopoulos’ s place of birth in Greece. The other three ‘clusters’ – abstraction grey cluster (FW21546), abstraction yellow cluster and abstraction markings cluster – although smaller in size (each being six or seven panels) certainly do not radiate any less magnificence.

Tsoutas, who has worked together with Arnaoutopoulos for many years across significant projects, comments ‘The critical power of Andrew Arnaoutopoulos’ s abstract paintings lies precisely in the almost unconscious poetic minimalist aesthetic that he imposes on his canvas. Blurring the distinctions between what constitutes a painting as a finished work of art and the by-product detritus that the painting process produces’. Alongside the paintings, there will be two sculptural installations where the artist continues themes such as memories of factory life, industrial detritus, faded walls, and ruins of an abandoned leprosy hospital in Samos.

Downstairs at the gallery, the first of the Recollections series will be displayed. Recollections I focuses on secondary market paintings and sculptures from Utopia (north-west Northern Territory) and neighbouring communities. Paintings will include Kathleen Ngal’s shimmering, pink-purple palette Bush Plum 2009 (FW21546) and Ada Bird Petyarre’s striking Mountain Devil Dreaming 1999 (FW20058).  Recollections II Country in Mind (which opens on Thursday 20 April) revisits the 2007 exhibition Country in Mind where local artist Yvonne Mills-Stanley and the late western desert artist Dorothy Napangardi were paired together at Fireworks Gallery. Recollections II will also include works by Dorothy’s family, Lily Kelly Napangardi and Julie Nangala Robertson.

Michael Eather, Director of Fireworks Gallery remarked ‘FireWorks is excited to be exhibiting Andrew Arnaoutopoulos first exhibition here. With the gallery now celebrating thirty years of exhibiting and promoting contemporary artists, continual dialogue exists for existing and new audiences and collectors.’

Artwork prices range from: $660 - $55000