WA artist Mark Grey-Smith takes inspiration from Einstein in new exhibition

Western Australian artist Mark Grey-Smith has taken inspiration from Einsteinian physics in an exhibition opening at The University of Western Australia’s Winthrop Hall Undercroft.

The exhibition forms part of the celebrations for the centenary of the Wallal expedition. The 1922 Wallal expedition, instigated by UWA Professor Alexander Ross, proved Einstein’s theory of relativity and changed our understanding of space, time and gravity.

Grey-Smith’s exhibition brings together science, history, education and art, including a display of science-inspired sculptures.

The exhibition includes Drawing in Space, sculptures from the past three years that use three dimensional lines and planes to play with positive and negative space.

Image: Photo: Mark Grey-Smith.

Also on display is Covid 20, sculptures inspired by the emotions around the COVID-19 pandemic and the Germ Series, an expression of how you can get something from nothing, which is inspired by black holes and the work of UWA astronomers and physicists.

Grey-Smith has worked with UWA physicist Emeritus Professor David Blair for many decades, collaborating on art and science projects.

“The development of modern art in the 20th century has been directly affected by developments in physics,” Grey-Smith said.

“Advances in cosmology and physics can change how we look at nature on both a large and small scale, and affect our view of the universe.”

Grey-Smith was born in 1950 in Darlington, Western Australia.  He studied at the Chelsea School of Art and the Australian National University and has exhibited around Australia.

The Mark Grey-Smith Exhibition runs from September 20 to October 2, is open between 10am and 4pm every day and entry is free.  On September 20, due to exams the exhibition in the Undercroft will be closed an alternative exhibition will be offered in the Physics Building Atrium from 10am - 4pm.

UWA’s Wallal Centenary celebrations also include free public lectures, free talks and educational workshops for school-aged children and an opportunity to see the Royal Australian Mint’s Wallal Centenary commemorative coin.  For more information, visit the UWA Wallal Centenary website.