On the Mornington Peninsula, Australian Artist Hannah Nowlan exhibits contemporary art on a rural canvas. 'SLATE' is the inaugural exhibition of artist-run initiative, 
Lander—Se, Red Hill.


In 2021, the Australian Artist Hannah Nowlan and her partner Tim Berger purchased abandoned Red Hill acreage with plans to develop a creative arts destination deeply connected to the site's natural environment. During a two-year sabbatical, Nowlan took time away from her painting practice to transform a vernacular barn and develop a rural, sustainable, artist-run initiative on 2.5 serene acres. Now returning with her first self-presented body of work, 'SLATE' uncovers the narratives and inspiration of this two-year journey.

Drawing on narratives shared by neighbours and evidence unearthed by the land itself, Nowlan gently reveals the historical tapestry of the land and its surroundings. Continuing her exploration of selfhood, mythology, and connection to landscape, Nowlan creates a serene atmosphere within the gallery. The exhibition features eighteen site-specific paintings that are fluid, with delicate strokes conveying a sense of transience and vulnerability.

Seeing the world through a mythical lens has become a discipline woven into my practice, allowing me to capture the spirit of place. In this significant body of work, I attempt to understand and interpret the long, quiet history that came before us. Fermenting the stillness of the land, our experiences and natural encounters over the past two years.

'Slate' stems from the raw natural materials found on-site, littered throughout our property. Our parcel of land was originally part of a larger farm property, including the caretaker's cottage of McIlroy's Quarry. 

Mining for slate (blue metal) for local roads, the quarry filled with natural springs at thirty metres deep. The breathtaking and untouched blue and white slate bluffs and the reflective quarry water are key inspiration sources for this body of work.