Past Event Jonas Balsaitis: #LIVEWIRE

#LIVEWIRE is a satellite exhibition of paintings by Jonas Balsaitis from the 1990s, including his series of Palette Paintings (1994), some electrifying-outtakes from the Drill Hall Gallery Analogue exhibition, and the screening of Balsaitis’s film Erratica (1982).

This satellite exhibition is held in conjunction with Jonas Balsaitis: Analogue at the Drill Hall Gallery, February 14 to April 13, 2025. Jonas Balsaitis: Analogue is an exhibition of paintings, prints, and experimental film by Australian artist Jonas Balsaitis (b. 1948, Germany), re-examining the artist’s use of ‘imaging systems’ in the context of contemporary developments in technology. Bringing together Balsaitis’s three monumental Metron paintings for the first time since their initial display at Pinacotheca Gallery Melbourne in 1972, Analogue shines a light on one of Australia’s most profound, yet underrepresented, experimental artists.

Curated by Oscar Capezio.

Thanks to Adam Bell and Civic Art Bureau for hosting this exhibition.

List of works:

Paintings on canvas
1. #LIVEWIRE, 1999, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 143 x 173 cm
2. Comet, 2000, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 117 x 173 cm
3. Untitled, 1979-80, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 143 x 173 cm (Window Display)

TV
4. Erratica, 1982, 16mm-film, colour (Single channel digitized), 20mins. National Film and Sound Archive, Canberra

Paintings on PVC (L-R)
5. Palette Painting No.4 (Propellant), 1994, acrylic on coreflute, 598 x 835mm
6. Palette Painting No.7 (Choke), 1994, acrylic on coreflute, 598 x 835mm
7. Palette Painting No.8 (High Tail It), 1994, acrylic on coreflute, 598 x 835mm
8. Palette Painting No.11 (Extract), 1994, acrylic on coreflute, 598 x 835mm
9. Palette Painting No.12 (Signals), 1994, acrylic on coreflute, 598 x 835mm
10. Palette Painting No.9 (Wayfarer), 1994, acrylic on coreflute, 598 x 835mm
11. Palette Painting No.13 (Select devour), 1994, acrylic on coreflute, 598 x 835mm
12. Palette Painting No.15 (Tentacle), 1994, acrylic on coreflute, 598 x 835mm
13. Palette Painting No.16 (Adjacent), 1994, acrylic on coreflute, 598 x 835mm
14. Palette Painting No.19 (CompuLearn), 1994, acrylic on coreflute, 598 x 835mm
15. Palette Painting No.2 (Auto Electro), 1994, acrylic on coreflute, 598 x 835mm
16. Palette Painting No.17 (Penetrate), 1994, acrylic on coreflute, 598 x 835mm
17. Palette Painting No.1 (Sequencer), 1994, acrylic on coreflute, 598 x 835mm (above plan drawers)