Untitled No 4

In the shift from gloss to matte paint and through subtle transformations of tone, Robert Hunter’s paintings encourage close observation. From the wall to paper, canvas, plywood and board, his paintings mark out horizontal, vertical and diagonal grids with delicate and muted shades of white.

In 1968 Tolarno Galleries in Melbourne hosted his first commercial exhibition and in the same year his work was also included in The Field exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. Signalling a new direction, this exhibition highlighted a group of artists interested in colour-field painting and minimalism. Incorporating serial structures, geometric forms, industrial materials and a complex appreciation of how objects function in space, Hunter’s paintings are at the vanguard of post-minimalist painting in Australia. His complex and subtle paintings promote an active contemplation that often transcends their methodical construction.

First image Alex Davies, second image Christopher Snee.