David Kindon

Eyes Wide Open is a powerful and contrasting exhibition by Canberra-based artist David Kindon, presented in two distinct but interrelated bodies of work. The first continues Kindon’s commitment to bearing witness — confronting the suffering of innocent civilians caught in global conflicts, particularly the plight of Palestinians in Gaza. These works respond to humanity’s instinct to look away from atrocity, inviting viewers instead to pause, reflect, and remain present with uncomfortable realities rather than turning a blind eye.

In counterpoint, the second component of the exhibition marks a new direction in Kindon’s practice, exploring peace, beauty, and expansive possibility through panoramic wide-format canvases. Working with elongated “broadsheet” proportions and large-scale triptych arrangements, Kindon embraces the visual drama of the extended horizon, drawing comparisons to cinematic formats such as VistaVision and IMAX. Together, these two bodies of work embody what the artist describes as the irreconcilable yin and yang of the human condition — aching beauty set against unbearable agony — asking viewers to hold both simultaneously, with eyes wide open.