Monica Rohan's Domestic Objects Wander into Remote Landscapes
Brisbane-based painter Monica Rohan has removed human figures from her latest works, leaving only domestic objects like bentwood chairs and patterned textiles to inhabit remote Tasmanian landscapes. Her upcoming solo exhibition 'Invitations' at Sophie Gannon Gallery in Melbourne this June features oil paintings on board and canvas, including 'Draped Clover' (2026, 70 x 100 cm) and 'Flow' (2026, 107 x 137 cm). The scenes are inspired by a hiking trip through Tasmania, depicting alpine summits, streams, and meadows. Rohan describes the bentwood chairs as 'human stand-ins' that evoke home and now invite viewers into a precarious predicament. The works mark a shift from her earlier practice where figures were swaddled in fabrics.
Key facts
- Monica Rohan is a Brisbane-based artist.
- Her recent paintings exclude human figures, focusing on domestic objects.
- Objects include bentwood chairs, plaid tablecloths, and crocheted blankets.
- The landscapes are inspired by a hiking trip through Tasmania.
- The solo exhibition 'Invitations' opens in June 2026 at Sophie Gannon Gallery in Melbourne.
- Featured works: 'Draped Clover' (2026, oil on board, 70 x 100 cm), 'Flow' (2026, oil on canvas, 107 x 137 cm), 'Fuzz' (2026, oil on board, 50 x 35 cm), 'Heavyweight' (2026, oil on board, 80 x 60 cm), 'Stream' (2026, oil on canvas, 107 x 137 cm), 'The Path' (2025, oil on canvas, 152.5 x 183 cm), 'Princess Street Garden' (2025, oil on board, 70 x 100 cm), 'Should I Go Now' (oil on board, 78 x 64 cm), 'View from the Street' (2025, oil on board, 80 x 60 cm).
- Rohan describes bentwood chairs as 'elegant yet rickety' and reminders of home.
- The artist notes the objects 'waver between unassuming decoration and smothering intrusion.'
Entities
Artists
- Monica Rohan
Institutions
- Sophie Gannon Gallery
- Colossal
Locations
- Brisbane
- Melbourne
- Australia
- Tasmania