Underwater
- Graeme Peebles

Graeme Peebles exhibition Underwater delves into his enduring exploration of undersea landscapes and life, a recurring theme in his artistic practice. Through a selection of lithographs and velvety mezzotints spanning over two decades, Peebles showcases technical mastery alongside profound commentary on the growing environmental impact of plastic pollution in our oceans.

Featured in this body of work are Plastic graveyard 2023 and The deep 2023, the two prints that resulted from the 2023 Groep van Roey commission, where Peebles joined international printmakers to address the theme of ‘water’. Peebles was the first Australian artist to be selected for the prestigious portfolio.

These pieces take four months to render with a burnisher through a slow, methodical polishing method. The plates are then purchased by Groep van Roey before being sent to the international print workshop, Terra Sagrada in Portugal, where an edition of 300 is printed off of each place. Each artist receives 10 editions of their prints, plus one copy of the full print portfolio with all the artists works. The remaining portfolios are all gifted to national museums, public galleries, organisations such as UNESCO, political leaders and art collectors throughout Europe.

The 2023 Groep van Roey portfolio will be available to view by request during the exhibition.

Mezzotints printed by Bill Young at the King Valley print workshop, Victoria
Lithographs printed by Peter Lancaster at Lancaster Press, Fiji