Made From Rain — Rhys John Kaye

Words by Sean Irving in response to ‘Made From Rain’ by Rhys John Kaye at - No Vacancy Gallery 2024

Made From Rain, Rhys John Kaye's latest body of work, presents fragmented and fragile recollections of the artist's life, free from the imposition of a linear narrative structure.

These are not autobiographical depictions, but rather glimpses of memory intertwined with the perspective of the present. This is past made muddy with reference, allusion, and the irrepressible vantage of the current moment.

Throughout these pieces, Rhys obscures the audience’s view with a persistent cover of rain. As a metaphor and visual device, this blurring of vision – a resistance to resolution – simultaneously invites the audience to look closer while also stubbornly thwarting our comprehension.

Alongside the painted works, we find a series of porcelain buckets that allude to the fragility of painting itself and the tenuousness of the scenes depicted – not captured – in the medium.

Collectively, these pieces ask a question: are our memories formed from truth, or do they function more like dreams – as stories we tell ourselves?

A series of big oil paintings and porcelain vase sculptures by Rhys John Kaye at 'Made From Rain' solo art exhibition at No Vacancy Gallery in Melbourne Australia, presenting modern artworks in a contemporary art gallery.

a series of raindrop oil paintings by Rhys John Kaye at 'Made From Rain' solo art exhibition at No Vacancy Gallery in Melbourne Australia, presenting sculptures and oil paintings in a contemporary art gallery.

Rhys John Kaye's art exhibition install at 'Made From Rain' solo art exhibition at No Vacancy Gallery in Melbourne Australia, presenting modern figurative oil paintings and oil paint portraits in a contemporary art gallery.

A look at some of the paintings and sculptures featured in Rhys John Kaye's 'Made From Rain' solo art exhibition at No Vacancy Gallery in Melbourne Australia

I Want The Love We Used To Have 2024 - Collaboration with Bronte Naylor, Porcelain, 190mm x 200mm, 2024

a preview of Rhys John Kaye's 'Made From Rain' solo art exhibition at No Vacancy Gallery in Melbourne Australia, presenting modern figurative oil paintings and ceramic mixed medium sculptures in a contemporary art gallery.

Following ‘Made From Rain’ Exhibition was a limited edition publication by Rhys John Kaye and Exhale Book Club, officially released in Osaka, Japan at Voyage Kids Gallery in December 2024. This publication consists of 68 pages that document the research and development of this project by the artist, including a curated selection of their personal photography, notes, sculptures and previously unseen finished artworks. It is 176mm x 250mm, CMYK indigo colour print throughout on 80gsm Japanese newsprint with a hand embellished 300gsm uncoated cover. Available here

This ceramic vase with nails in it made from earthenware clay by Rhys John Kaye is being exhibitied at No Vacancy Gallery in Melbourne Australia as part of the solo art exhibition titled 'Made From Rain' — **Under Pressure 2024 -** Earthenware, 160mm x 280mm, 2024

Rhys John Kaye at 'Made From Rain' solo art exhibition at No Vacancy Gallery in Melbourne Australia, presenting modern figurative oil paintings in a contemporary art gallery.