Huon Valley artist Anton Holzner to open exhibition months after narrow fire escape

Just two months ago, Anton Holzner feared dozens of his paintings would be lost as the Huon Valley bushfires drew closer to his house and studio — but now, an exhibition featuring 36 of his works is set to open.

JUST two months ago Anton Holzner feared dozens of his paintings would be lost as the Huon Valley bushfires drew closer to his house and studio — but a group of friends and a van came to the rescue, and Mr Holzner, his Judbury home, and his paintings were unharmed.

Tonight an exhibition featuring 36 of his works painted between 1996 and 2019 opens at Salamanca Arts Centre’s Long Gallery.
MORE: TASMANIAN ARTIST’S DESPERATE CALL TO SAVE HIS PAINTINGS

He calls his paintings “abstract expressions” which flow from the spontaneity of his mood and his fingers. “Everybody has a different way of working,” he said.

“For me, it’s chaos first and then order.”

The Austrian-born 83-year-old said his work over the years had reflected the transience, motion and spontaneity of civisilation and the world around him.

Anton Holzner's exhibition at the Long Gallery Salamanca opens tonight. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

“We’ve got speed. That itself has influenced everything we’re doing,” Mr Holzner said.

“So we have to get things out quickly or else it sort of dries up.”

Previously the senior lecturer of fine art at the University of Tasmania, he said his main lesson to students was to not allow their ego to get in the way.

“It’s so important that you regain a certain humility,” he said.

The exhibition’s official opening is at 6pm this evening. The exhibition will continue until April 11.

Judbury resident and notable artist Anton Holzner stayed to defend his property during the bushfires because he had over 250 of his artworks that he could not move without a covered truck. Thankfully, a group of friends came to the rescue. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN