Modernism: Another View – A Review

Derek Schapper spoke with enthusiasm about the timbers he used to create the flocks of birds and schools of fish that lined the walls of EarlyWork Gallery in South Terrace at his Modernism: Another View exhibition opening last week.

The jarrah, marri, river red gum, Australian cedar, banksia, American cherry, American walnut, Tasmanian blackwood, and blackbutt that Derek machined and hand-finished so uniquely had different hues and hardnesses that delivered a range of effects.

It was fascinating.

Derek Schapper

Was this the Derek Schapper who’d been one of Perth’s top Industrial Relations lawyers fighting for workers against big employers?

When Derek finished bluntly by saying “But all timber is Brown” the question was answered.

As a lawyer Derek was known for his bluntness.

Now he’s an artist – and has been working in timber for twelve years.

He’d exhibited successfully at Future Shelter gallery last year.

Now he’d come to Fremantle and was welcomed at his opening by Mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge.

In this exhibition Derek has again shown many of his natural timber creations.

But he has also overcome the “brownness” of timber by creating landscapes with layers of painted timber. The effect is striking and unique.

Derek has walked much of Europe and some of his painted images are stylised creations of views that piqued his interest.

Derek credits influences from the Bauhaus, Modernism and Art Deco for his work. In this exhibition it seems he has created a genre of his own.

Modernism: Another View runs at EarlyWorks Gallery, 330 South Terrace, South Fremantle, 10 am – 4 pm daily till 3 March 2025.

* By Andrew Thorpe, who notes he has been a friend of the artist for more than 50 years.

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