A contemplative exhibition of graphite drawings that emerge in quiet dialogue with the sculptural legacy of Classical antiquity.
For millennia, people of all backgrounds have been captivated by Classical Greece and its ideals of beauty, harmony, order and proportion. It has inspired historical art movements such as the Renaissance, and its principles have become deeply embedded in Western visual language.
It is from this tradition that the works of Herk Alexander, an Australian artist of Greek descent, are drawn. Created over weeks and months of quiet contemplation, they present reimagined forms that deviate from their originals with quiet defiance.
Beauty, here, is not constrained by the perfection of classical ideals. Instead, the fragmented body dominates: torsos cleaved by time, faces eroded by centuries. Fractures, voids, and imperfections are deliberately introduced rather than corrected, re-contextualised as poetic conditions instead of flaws. Through them, viewers find a mirror to their own lives, underscoring the truth that every person bears the indelible marks of life's journey.
What emerges is a meditation on mortality, emotional complexity, and the passage of time.
Open daily until October 2026, included with Museum general entry.
Herk Alexander is a figurative artist who draws upon the visual language of classical antiquity and the rich narratives of Greek mythology. His work evokes the quiet intensity of ancient sculpture, inviting contemplation of the idealised form in a style distinctively his own.
Alexander's passion for drawing began at a young age. At sixteen he was accepted into design school, launching his career with formal training in Graphic Design (1987–1988), with further studies in Decorative Paint Finishes (1993) and Interior Decorating (2003–04). In 1999, he opened his antiques store, specialising in 18th to early 20th century French antiques and hand-painted finishes — a dedication spanning over three decades, that continues to this day.
His debut solo exhibition, Immortal (2022), premiered at the Greek Festival of Sydney, commemorating its 40th anniversary, presented at Fellia Melas Gallery, Sydney. His second solo show, Muse (2024), also selected for the festival, featured his most expansive body of work to date.
Alexander's drawing, The River in My Eyes, inspired by the classical statue of Antinous, was recently featured in Queer Drawing (2025), an exhibition for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
ABOUT THE ARTIST