Paula McLoughlin

"These screenprints are using a motif of a circle and target that I continue to use for a lot of different reasons. It started as homage to the artists who gave us a representation of a contemplative state with a political overtone. I have used this motif to represent a simple state of just existing and mark making through to being an abstraction of imagined conversations. Its purpose in my work is to initiate contemplation.

For this series of prints, I was reminiscing about road trips through farmland with the patterns in the paddocks and the rolls of hay just sitting there, settling into the ground waiting to be moved on.

This made me think about the many ways in which we as humans settle – we settle on ideas, we settle for things in life, we settle in conversations, settle in for the long haul and we strive to settle in a physical space – the list goes on. We equate settling with success because it underpins a resolution, and our desire for a final state.

We are told in so many ways that settling can be contentment. But in reality do we settle or is this really a continual contemplation and desire, hence the circles."

Paula McLoughlin, September 2019

Click here for artwork by Paula McLoughlin

Exhibitions at Tacit include

2023 The conversation is broken

2022 The wide open spaces are a dream

    

2017 - Conversational
   

Exhibition history (selected)
solo
2023 The conversation is broken, Tacit Art, Melbourne
2022 The wide open spaces are a dream, Tacit Art, Melbourne
2021 Small Things, Alternating Current Artspace, Melbourne  
2020 Give me shelter, fortyfivedownstairs, Melbourne
2019 Settling, Tacit Art, Melbourne
2018 Hey Josef, Why So Square, Alternating Current Artspace, Melbourne 
2017 Conversational, Tacit Art, Melbourne
2016 Being Human, Beth Hulme Gallery, Melbourne
2015 A Conversation Between Josef & Jasper, Beth Hulme Gallery, Melbourne
2014 A Convergence of North and South, Beth Hulme Gallery, Melbourne
2012 Little Tragedies, Truth & Lies, Beth Hulme Gallery, Melbourne
2009 Watching a Space, Chrysalis Gallery, Melbourne
2008 Corners & Alleyways, Red Gallery, Melbourne

group
2022 TACIT Still Life Prize, Tacit Art, Melbourne
Garden of Loss and Triumph, No Vacancy Gallery, Melbourne
Editions Print Prize, Tacit Art, Melbourne [JOINT WINNER]
Superimposed, No Vacancy Gallery, Melbourne
2021 Burnie Print Prize, Tasmania
Caravan, Tacit Art, Melbourne
Editions, Tacit Art, Melbourne
2020 Goodbye 1.5 Metres, Black Cat Gallery, Melbourne
20[2020], Tacit Art, Melbourne
Pause Button, Old Auction House, Kyneton
Editions, Tacit Art, Melbourne
2019 Art Aviso No.1, No Vacancy Gallery, Melbourne;
Editions, Tacit Art
Vitroform, Lord Coconut, Melbourne
Glow, Neon Parlour, Melbourne
Experimental Print Prize, Castlemaine Regional Gallery
Square Circle, Black Cat Gallery, Melbourne 
2018 Editions, Tacit Art
Sphere, Off the Kerb Gallery, Melbourne
Impressions, Australian Print Workshop, Melbourne 
2017 Editions, Tacit Art, Melbourne
Burnie Print Prize, Tasmania 
2016 Editions, Tacit Art. Melbourne
Chroma, Beth Hulme Gallery, Melbourne
Chroma, Queenscliff Gallery & Workshop
Compact Print 2016, Umbrella Studio, Townsville
Impressions, Australian Print Workshop, Melbourne 
2014 Swan Hill Print & Drawing Award, Swan Hill Regional Gallery
St Kilda Revisited, St Kilda Town Hall Gallery, Melbourne
2013 Fremantle Print Award
2012 The 75 Print Salute, 69 Smith St Gallery, Melbourne
Postcard Show, New Linden Art, Melbourne
2011 NBC Meshtec Screen Print Biennial, Tokyo, Japan 
2010 Solander, London Print Workshop
Impressions, Australian Print Workshop
2008 Fremantle Print Award