Marianne Newman Gallery is delighted to present the first solo exhibition of works by Sydney artist Joshua Parry. Parry graduated from the College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales, in 2006 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours), specialising in printmaking.

Distance Marked reveals the young artist’s fascination with the built environment, specifically the industrial landscapes of New South Wales. The mining town of Broken Hill, the steelworks of Port Kembla and Lithgow’s Angus Place Coal Mine have all been subjected to Parry’s gaze, and then transformed into etchings that reveal their stark uncomfortable beauty. The sharp angles of steel girders, the curve of a smokestack, the rough hewn texture of a blue-black coal seam and the vivid ochres of metal rusting under a deep blue sky can all be seen in Parry’s abstract images.

Parry’s work was first seen by Marianne Newman at the COFA Graduate Show (2005). Newman is excited to be showing the young artist. “As a gallery director I believe in supporting emerging artists as well as more established ones. Josh’s prints reveal a technical expertise coupled with a unique vision of the Australian landscape. I am delighted to be showing his work at the Marianne Newman Gallery.”

Distance Marked includes works inspired by Parry’s travels undertaken as part of a quest to extend and challenge his skills as a printmaker. In early 2006 he moved to Cairns, QLD, at the invitation of master lithographer Theo Tremblay, to accept a position as artist-in-residence at Tropical North Queensland TAFE. Following this Parry travelled to Thailand to work with artist and master printer Kitikong Tilokwattanotai. Parry assisted Tilokwattanotai in the establishment of the printmaking studio, Black Rail Press.