ROBERT HABEL

The overall theme of Robert’s paintings are landscape subjects that reflect human interaction. These environments are often contentious and Robert is interested in this space where landscape use/abuse is debated and topical. Examples are the over farmed areas of South Australia’s Mid North or Murraylands, heavy industrial landscapes, and new technologies such as desalination plants and renewable energies. How communities manage old interventions, while integrating the new into our landscapes is always interesting to him.

The Tanks paintings were made during a residency at the Cairns Regional Council in 2011. The tanks are a group of World War 2 oil storage tanks that have now been converted to an arts centre. Robert was drawn to their physicality, and their industrial history through the oil stains and marking on the concrete walls. These works were first shown in the exhibition 'Cairns: in the company of strangers', at the Tanks Arts Centre in 2011.

The Mid North landscapes were painted on site in and around the Lochiel salt plains in South Australia. The works were impacted by strong winds, bright reflections, and obscured views due to dust storms. ‘Painting at the Lochiel Salt Plains, South Australia on a hot and windy day’ was a finalist in the Barossa Art Prize in 2009 and represents the strong linear design of the salt plains and surrounding Mid North landscape.