Press Release Matt  Bromhead    Firstlight 12  November  –  7  December  2011     Cuts heal, rain clears. Ray  Hughes  gallery  presents  its  first  solo  exhibition  of  work  by  Matt  Bromhead.  Firstlight  documents,  proverbially,  the  morning  after  a  storm  has  passed. Paying  heed  to  travel,  distance,  and  reflection  once  the  inertia  has  settled,  this  collection  weaves  together  collected  flotsam  and  creates  new  patterns  upon  which  new  beginnings  are  built.  This  new  work  continues  the  narrative  from  his  2010  show,  Tempest  Travel,  which  documented  the  passage  of  the  storm  itself.    

In  preparation  for  this  exhibition  Matt  spent  five  weeks  in  China  learning  traditional  and  new  Chinese  papermaking  techniques,  mostly  from  the  Naxi  ethnic  minority  in  western  Lijiang.  Much  of  the  work  has  been  created  from  material  collected  from  various  areas  around  Australia  and  abroad.   Matt  is  a  young  artist  practicing  primarily  in  the  areas  of  drawing  and  sculpture.  He  graduated  from  UNSW's  College  of  Fine  Arts  in  2008,  and  has  since  been  the  recipient  of  

the  Lloyd  Rees  Drawing  and  Painting  prize,  and  a  finalist  in  major  national  awards  including  the  Agendo  art  prize,  The  Churchie  emerging  artist  award,  Poimena  art  prize  and  the  Mount  Eyre  art  award.  In  2009  he  produced  a  large  scale  drawing  commission  for  Chifley  in  Melbourne,  and  was  awarded  an  Australia  Council  Artstart  grant  for  new  work  in  2010.  Matt  has  since  spent  time  in  China  developing  his  work  and  researching  Chinese  papermaking  methods.  He  was  previously  represented  by  Rex-­‐Livingston  art  dealer.

For  images  or  further  information  please  contact  Evan  Hughes  or  Bridget  Macleod  on  02  9698  3200. Join  us  at  the  Gallery  on  Saturday  12th  November  for  evening  drinks  to  celebrate  the  opening  of  this  new  exhibition:  4-­  6  pm.