Photograph: Andrew Curtis

Suzie Idiens | The Warriors and The Missing | 31 October - 23 November 2024

Suzie Idiens is a contemporary artist known for her geometric wall sculptures characterised by highly reflective surfaces. Through the use of industrial materials and a meticulous process that removes any trace of her own hand, her works emerge as independent objects, mirroring their surroundings and making the observer integral to the experience. Idiens is interested in the subjective nature of perception and the paradox that arises when viewing reductive abstract art – both self-referential and rational, yet capable of evoking a visceral response. Her practice balances intuitive decisions with formal concerns, methodically adjusting geometric forms and restricting the use of colour to a monochrome palette, resulting in singular objects with a minimalist aesthetic that bridge conventional notions of painting and sculpture. “Simplicity of shape does not necessarily equate with simplicity of experience.” 1

In her new series, The Warriors and The Missing, Idiens presents minimal, monochrome objects coated in solid colours that appear to float from the wall, contrasting with cast shadows while capturing all in their polished sheen. Rounded edges soften the precise shapes, inviting the viewer’s gaze to glide across the liquid-like surfaces and serving as lines of visible convergence, easing the object’s relationship to the surrounding space. The simplicity of each panel conceals the considered construction designed to keep the pieces lightweight, both visually and practically. The exhibition takes its title from a set of sketches Idiens made in her St Peters studio in 2021, at a time when freedom of movement and social interaction were limited by Covid restrictions. As each line solidified into a distinct new shape, bearing the lasting indentation left on its geometric form, Idiens noted the perceived resilience and strength emerging in each sketch. Central to her practice is the process of reduction, aiming for clarity and precision in line and form, distilling complexity into specific shapes that bring forth a quiet tension within each piece. This focus on the interplay between objects, light, space and the viewer emphasises the significance of concept and materiality in shaping the perceptual experience.

1 Robert Morris. (1966). Notes on Sculpture. In Art Forum (p.44).

Suzie Idiens is a British Australian Artist who lives and works on Gadigal land/Sydney. She completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Furniture Design with Honours in 1997 at Middlesex University, and studied Master of Arts in Furniture and Industrial Design in 1998 at the Royal College of Art, London. Her work has been shown in national and international exhibitions including “Black” (2023) Void_Melbourne,Melbourne; “Text Re-read” (2023) Deakin University Gallery, Melbourne; “Diadikasia” (2021) Galerie Pompom, Sydney; “Monochrome: Empty and Full” (2018) Margaret Lawrence Gallery, Melbourne; “Visions of Utopia” (2017) Wollongong Regional Gallery and Penrith Regional Gallery. Her work is held in public collections in Australia including Wollongong Regional Gallery, Drill Hall Gallery and ArtBank, as well as private collections in Australia, Europe, Hong Kong, United Kingdom and United States.