Wounded Liver

'Wounded Liver' was selected for 'Paper Trail: Drawings from the collection', a contemporary survey of Australian works on paper by curator, Lisa Slade and Newcastle Art Gallery Director, Ron Ramsey. The exhibition featured works by artists Angus Nivison, Max Linegar and Ellis which blurred the line between drawing and painting and challenged the traditional assumption that drawing is predominately a preliminary activity for painting. Based on the painting of the same name created in 1987, 'Wounded Liver' features a large morphic liver derived from a small automatic drawing constructed without preconceived idea and elaborated upon through studio based research. The inclusion of a dog inside the liver shows Ellis's research into renaissance symbolism and "physica curiosa". The Liver pierced by arrows, sprouts leaves and appears to be in some lunar landscape; surrounded by tea cups brimming with eyes acting as witness to an inexplicable event. 'Wounded Liver 'demonstrates Ellis's use of surrealist philosophy and bizarre imagery, building upon his research into themes of juxtaposition and transformation in drawing.
Direct, delicate and robust, drawing has lost none of its enchantment over its thousands of years of history. Ellis's works on paper were considered unique since the late 1970's for their focus on drawing as a singular practice, for their size, complexity, use of mixed media and confronting and bizarre animist imagery.