Hiroe and Cornel Swen: Making a Creative Life

Overview

This exhibition celebrates two of Canberra’s most influential artists, Hiroe and Cornel Swen, who together, led a uniquely creative life in this region.

Cornel Swen emigrated from Rotterdam, the Netherlands in 1951 and worked in Sydney as an artist and graphic designer. In 1957, 23-year-old Hiroe began learning ceramics with a master craftsman of contemporary ceramic art in Kyoto. In 1966, Cornel met Hiroe while stopping over in Kyoto on his way to Singapore, where he was to be employed as an art director. The couple married in Kyoto, six months after they first met and lived in Kyoto for two years before immigrating to Sydney.

In 1970, the Swens moved to a rural property near Canberra, then renovated the building, establishing the Pastoral Gallery in 1973. They continued to work in parallel creating their own work, while working together towards the success of the gallery, with Cornel managing the business. Hiroe went on to become one of Australia's most respected ceramic artists and influenced generations of practitioners through teaching at workshops and institutions including the Australian National University.

Significant ceramics by Hiroe will be shown alongside Cornel's batik paintings to celebrate this extraordinary creative partnership.