Dean Manning's latest exhibition, Midgets and Giants, is a body of work exploring his family history. The collection draws heavily on his experiences on the royal show circuit with his father during his childhood.

Jo-Anne, 2011. Acrylic and shellac on wood. 830mm x 360mm


Templo San Lazaro, 2011. Oil on wood. 680mm x 760mm


Knock 'Em Down, 2011. Acrylic and shellac on wood. 830mm x 360mm

He says that "the showground was my playground and the side show alleys were the heart of it." This certainly comes through in his works, with minimal line work, use of recycled timbers and a predominantly pastel palette creating a sense of nostalgia as you are drawn into the narrative of Manning's work.




Bowls, 2011. Oil on wood. 600mm x 530mm


Goodbye Captain Howdy, 2010. Oil on wood. 340mm x 400mm


Red Phone, 2011. Oil on wood. 400mm x 340mm

In addition to his paintings, Manning's sculpture and stop-motion animation were on display. It was wonderful to see his characters come alive and further draw you into his world.


Strongman. Clay and lime wash paint. 300mm x 60mm

A nice crowd came out to support the artist and the gallery for the opening, spilling onto the street to enjoy the evening air.







The exhibiton runs until 19 March 2011 so get along; you won't regret it. Visit the Damien Minton Gallery website http://damienmintongallery.com.au/ particularly Dean Manning's page http://damienmintongallery.com.au/artists/dean-manning for more information.

Written by the Strobed team http://www.strobed.com.au/

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