Paris exhibition for Gomboc’s art

YOU'D think an artist commissioned by Andrew Forrest to create a 12-metre high sculpture for the Cyclone George memorial in South Hedland, and who made the centrepiece sculpture for the Sultan of Brunei's Jerudong Park Polo Club, would have quite a following in the broader Western Australian arts community.

Croatian-born sculptor Ron Gomboc, who is about to show his work in Paris for the second time, has been a working artist in WA for more than 25 years; and although he is known by private art collectors, he said he hasn't been as successful with local public art commissions and remains quite a low-profile artist.

Instead, centres beyond the state border are really driving interest in his work, starting with Sydney and his participation in the annual Sculpture by the Sea event.

"Sydney, in my experience, has been very good to me. My introduction to Sydney was Sculpture by the Sea in 1999, and from then on it gave me an opportunity to exhibit away from Perth," Mr Gomboc told Business Class.

"Most galleries in Perth are finding that we don't have as many collectors as Sydney or Melbourne. In WA, you only have half a dozen serious collectors."

Mr Gomboc and his wife, Terrie, have run the Gomboc Gallery and Sculpture Park in Middle Swan since 1982.

The space is located on 4.9 hectares and was initially built to show Mr Gomboc's work; but it quickly became an outlet for other local artists to use and a business for the Gombocs to run.

Mr Gomboc said most of his success had come in the past decade.

"I have devoted the past 10 years to my own work, I am much happier with that because I have received a great deal of recognition for it," he said.

"I had shows in Europe, my work was selected to represent Australia in Beijing for the Olympics, I did a workshop in Shanghai University four years ago where we had exchange professors, I just came back from Japan where I did a workshop through the Osage Museum Sculpture Park, and I found out three weeks ago that two of my works have been acquired for their collection."

Mr Gomboc's work may not have a significant profile in the local public art scene, but the sculptor has managed to get the attention of some local private, and overseas, investors.

"I haven't been that successful in getting public art commissions. I can't get a sculpture in Midland or in Perth but I can get my work to Beijing," Mr Gomboc said.

He is currently working on a 12-metre by six metre steel sculpture commissioned by Fortescue Metals Group CEO Andrew Forrest.

The piece, called 'Northern Spirits', will be the centrepiece of the Cyclone George victims' memorial, to be built in South Hedland.

And Mr Gomboc recently completed a piece, commissioned by British businessman and philanthropist Sir Michael Bishop, for the entrance of the Royal Flying Doctors new headquarters in Broken Hill, NSW.

"The biggest commission I have had was from the Sultan of Brunei in 1995 for two bronze horses. It was the most important one because it went overseas, and getting $200,000 for a piece of work was a great accomplishment," he said.

Mr Gomboc is preparing to exhibit in a Paris gallery for the second time, thanks to his relationship with well-known French rugby star turned sculptor, Jean Pierre Rives.

"He [Jean Pierre Rives] came to the Sculpture by the Sea in Sydney and he asked me to have a show in Paris in the centre of the city," Mr Gomboc said.

"Cultural exchanges have always been quite beneficial for me; it's an opportunity to get out there and get the recognition that I will never find in Perth."

Mr Gomboc will hold his Paris exhibition before year's end, and plans to put on his first exhibition in 10 years at the Middle Swan Gallery next year.