![Lyndon Dadswell. Untitled [Bird] circa 1965, brown gummed paper on metal support and wooden base, height 137 cm width 110 cm depth 95 cm](/cms/cmsimages/banner-images/bequest/PRG-sm-top-bequest7.jpg)
Regina Walter
Regina Walter is an artist based in Western Sydney, with a Bachelor of Visual Arts from the University of Western Sydney, Nepean. Her practice includes sculpture, installation, video, drawing and zine-making. She has participated in exhibitions both nationally and internationally in Japan, USA, NZ, Germany and Poland. Regina's Public Art installations include the NSW Police Headquarters in Parramatta NSW and the National Museum of Australia in Canberra, ACT.
No Right Turn Artist Statement
I have always been fascinated by the moon and enjoy looking, drawing, following its cycles, and the history of observing our satellite. The Greeks believed it was a world much like our own, with the dark regions being seas and the bright areas land. This concept survives in the Latin names in which the moon is mapped - maria for its seas and terrae for the lands.
Recently, I have studied the first investigations of the moon, particularly the work by Galileo Galilei in 1610. Using his handmade telescope, Galileo peered then sketched many remarkable drawings and watercolours of the topography. His work inspired European astronomers to map and catalogue detailed lunar features using the same technique. Numerous maps were published, all with different naming schemes of royalty, composers or artists for its features and regions. But it is the map using the names of famous scientists and mathematicians, the weather and states of mind (e.g. Sea of Tranquillity) by Italian astronomers Giambattista Riccioli and Francesco Grimaldi in 1651, which we still use today. Mapping continued, edging closer to capturing precise detail. In 1967, the Photographic Lunar Atlas compiled the best images of the moon from Earth's observatories, the last to be collected before man stepped foot on the surface.
The challenge for me is capturing the shadow-play. However, the dark side or night side, which sees no daylight, I find most compelling. While my drawings warrant some artistic license, I have become familiar with its features. There is even a Walter crater.
Recently, I have studied the first investigations of the moon, particularly the work by Galileo Galilei in 1610. Using his handmade telescope, Galileo peered then sketched many remarkable drawings and watercolours of the topography. His work inspired European astronomers to map and catalogue detailed lunar features using the same technique. Numerous maps were published, all with different naming schemes of royalty, composers or artists for its features and regions. But it is the map using the names of famous scientists and mathematicians, the weather and states of mind (e.g. Sea of Tranquillity) by Italian astronomers Giambattista Riccioli and Francesco Grimaldi in 1651, which we still use today. Mapping continued, edging closer to capturing precise detail. In 1967, the Photographic Lunar Atlas compiled the best images of the moon from Earth's observatories, the last to be collected before man stepped foot on the surface.
The challenge for me is capturing the shadow-play. However, the dark side or night side, which sees no daylight, I find most compelling. While my drawings warrant some artistic license, I have become familiar with its features. There is even a Walter crater.
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