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Thank you to everyone who joined us at HOTA on the Gold Coast! Opening night was filled to capacity with bright and bold art lovers and familiar faces.
Huge thanks to all those who made the weekend so memorable, especially the team at HOTA for putting such an exceptional show together.
Saturday was a day for diving deep into Ken's work. First up, Ken had a moving conversation with Julie McLaren, the senior curator at HOTA, about why he thinks this show is the best ever exhibition of his work.
That was followed by Luke & Anna from Romance was Born, discussing The Done Zone collaboration, and how their relationship has developed over the last 20 years (with some good natured teasing along the way!).
Ken's friend, and lover of all things Australian, Tim Ross spoke at the opening about the inclusiveness and optimism of Ken's work. (You can also spot Ken in Tim's new book 'What a Ripper!')
"Ken had very kindly asked me to speak and introduce him at the opening, and before the crowds arrived, I had the exhibition all to myself, time to breathe in the intoxicating sunshine of his works, and then quietly shit myself about what I was going to say.
Above one of his paintings is this simple but powerful quote from Ken:
“The joy of the beach is one of the great pleasures of Australia.”
I took a deep breath, thought about this, and how he’s loomed large in Australian life for almost as long as I can remember. Then I scribbled a few new words on a scrap of paper with a four-colour Bic pen I’d borrowed from the gift shop.
I’m not exactly sure how it came out, but essentially I talked about being in the first generation to grow up under the warm glow of the Sydney Opera House and how Ken took the optimism, the energy and the spirit of place of that glow and gifted it back to us on canvas and, more importantly, on T-shirts, tea towels and doona covers… art that was ours, and for everyone. Such a glorious, nation-enriching gift."
Tim Ross
The exhibition runs until February 2026, with a series of events and workshops for art lovers young and old, so you have plenty of time to plan a visit!
