Falsework by Jamie North explores the effects of nature on manmade structures

Sydney based artist and sculptor, Jamie North presents Falsework at the inaugural exhibition of The Renshaws’ new gallery space in Brisbane, Australia. Falsework is a series of sculptures and artworks that explore the realms that overlap the natural and man-made dominions.

Jamie North’s artworks fuses mineral finishes that have weathered and eroded due to the natural forces at play, with the delicate aesthetics provided by nature in the form of small plants growing out of the crevices. North’s aesthetic dictates the use of natural elements in order to morph, shape and age his works; with Falsework, North brings these natural elements to play with his concrete sculptures. Keeping in line with his new vision, The Renshaws’ has created an ecosystem for art, one where an artist is provided with a studio space, living accommodations and platforms to sell and showcase their art. Falsework by Jamie North is the first exhibition put forth by The Renshaws, open to visitors from the 11th of March and continues to remain on display until 20th of April, 2022.

Falsework is a term used in building construction for the temporary structures used to give support to the building pieces. Once the work has been completed, they are removed, becoming unknown to everyone other than those involved. With this narrative, North strips away the negative forms in order to create art with the positive spaces that are left. Falsework presents spherical sculptures of concrete that are a continuation of North’s 2016 collection, titled Remainders. Each sphere is cast in concrete, then weathered and processed, allowing the colours to leech out of the work, leaving the stone in its most basic and elemental form. The negative spaces within the globes are alleviated by the growth of Australian plants. The Remainder sculptures are made from the concrete waste in the production process, making them the newest rendition of the material that was created millions of years ago.

North’s La Niña paintings, also displayed at the exhibition, are a series of weathered clay artworks, with their chalk-white colour and organic finishes. Named after the Pacific weather phenomenon, La Niña means a ‘little girl’ in Spanish and takes place when the East to West trade winds are stronger than usual, bringing in waves of heat and rainfall to the eastern coast of Australia. This phenomenon occurred during the summer of 2021 to 2022, when North allowed his powdered clay works to interact with Sydney’s La Niña heat and rain; allowing the natural elements to be the artist for the works by eroding, dissolving and painting the pieces. The works were then cast in concrete, forever preserving them in their transient state.

The Renshaws’ have created a modular art project that provides spaces and networks for inner-city artists to have a career path with as few obstacles as possible. Within their modular network, they provide living and studio spaces, access to rooms with art collectors, private events and auctions, and much more; they also have a residency and retreat program for their artists in order for them to reflect on and enhance their work. Falsework is the first exhibition of many to come by The Renshaws’ in the Fortitude Valley of Australia.

Falsework by Jamie North will remain on display from 11 March 2022 to 20 April 2022 at The Renshaws in Brisbane, Australia.