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Step Into a Forgotten World: Rone's ‘TIME • RONE’ Exhibition Revives Perth’s Centenary Galleries

From July 1 2024 to February 2025, acclaimed street artist Rone presents his highly anticipated exhibition, "TIME • RONE," at the Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA). This immersive experience, set within the historic Centenary Galleries, offers a poignant exploration of beauty in decay and the transient nature of memory. Known for his large-scale murals and evocative multi-sensory installations, Rone brings his unique vision to Perth, transforming forgotten spaces into haunting reflections of Australia’s past.

 

TIME • RONE installation view, The Art Gallery of Western Australia, 2024. Image © RONE. Photo: Rift Photography.

TIME • RONE installation view, The Art Gallery of Western Australia, 2024. Image © RONE. Photo: Rift Photography.


The exhibition also marks a significant moment for the Centenary Galleries. For the first time in nearly two decades, all 12 rooms of the gallery are open to the public. Rone has meticulously adapted the space, crafting an intricate narrative that explores themes of impermanence, memory, and time. His work envelops visitors in an atmosphere reminiscent of a bygone era, with each room telling its own story of faded grandeur and lost history.

 

Through a combination of detailed murals, evocative soundscapes, and carefully curated installations, Rone’s art reawakens forgotten spaces. The galleries, now suspended in time, allow visitors to wander through remnants of history as if they were stepping into a living, breathing past. "I try to create scenes that feel like they’re in their very last moment," Rone explained in a recent interview. "It’s like we’re lucky to witness them one final time—capturing that sense of fragility and fleeting beauty."

 

Rone’s exploration of impermanence has deep roots in his years as a street artist. Much like his outdoor works, which often face destruction from time or the elements, his installations at AGWA invoke a similar urgency. Visitors are invited to experience the art in its present form—before it, too, fades into memory.

 

Originally designed for Melbourne’s Flinders Street Station, "TIME • RONE" has been seamlessly adapted for AGWA. Rone worked closely with a digital 3D model of the Centenary Galleries to ensure that his art would fit the space. "When I got the floor plans, I basically made a digital dollhouse, placing the works within it. To my surprise, we could fit nearly everything," Rone shared. The Perth adaptation also includes exclusive new installations created specifically for the venue, including a central room staged as an old theatre, where visitors stand onstage and look out at an imagined audience. The theatricality of the space is enhanced by velvet curtains, intimate lighting, and club tables, creating an atmosphere rich in nostalgia and emotional intensity.


TIME • RONE installation view, The Art Gallery of Western Australia, 2024. Image © RONE. Photo: Rift Photography.

TIME • RONE installation view, The Art Gallery of Western Australia, 2024. Image © RONE. Photo: Rift Photography.


TIME • RONE installation view, The Art Gallery of Western Australia, 2024. Image © RONE. Photo: Rift Photography.

TIME • RONE installation view, The Art Gallery of Western Australia, 2024. Image © RONE. Photo: Rift Photography.

 

Rone’s long-time collaborators, including interior stylist Carly Spooner and composer Nick Batterham, help elevate the exhibition beyond the traditional gallery experience. Spooner’s intricate styling and Batterham’s immersive soundscapes are not mere accompaniments—they are essential components of the storytelling. "It feels like you're walking through a movie set," Rone noted. "Every detail plays a part in telling the larger story."

 

The collaborative nature of the exhibition further enhances its impact. While Rone’s art breathes new life into abandoned spaces, Spooner’s styling deepens the emotional resonance, and Batterham’s music amplifies the sense of place and memory. Together, they create an environment that goes beyond visual appreciation—visitors feel they are part of a much larger narrative.

 

This theme of life within decay runs through all of Rone’s work. His installations are not mere restorations of forgotten places but reimaginings that blend fact and fiction. By evoking personal memories and stories, Rone invites viewers to contemplate the people who once occupied these spaces, as well as the fragile moments that now linger in our collective consciousness. "It’s not about the objects," Rone explained. "It’s about the memories they represent and the emotions they evoke. My work is about keeping those moments alive, even as everything around us decays."

 

With over 100,000 visitors to his previous "TIME" installation in Melbourne, Rone’s debut in Perth is expected to draw art lovers from across the country and beyond. AGWA, in partnership with Tourism Western Australia, has positioned the exhibition as a cultural highlight of the winter season, further boosting the gallery’s international standing.

 

Rone’s work, already held in the permanent collections of the National Gallery of Australia and the National Gallery of Victoria, has garnered widespread acclaim for its emotional depth and innovative approach to storytelling. His previous projects, including "Empire" and "The Omega Project," have captivated audiences with their haunting beauty and immersive atmospheres.

 

For Perth’s art scene, "TIME • RONE" is a major cultural event. Visitors to AGWA will leave with more than just visual memories—they’ll carry with them an emotional connection to a fleeting world of beauty and forgotten stories brought vividly back to life. This exhibition is not just a viewing experience—it’s an invitation to reflect on the transient nature of time and memory. For those seeking an extraordinary artistic journey, "TIME • RONE" at AGWA offers a rare chance to step into a world where time stands still—if only for a little while.


TIME • RONE installation view, The Art Gallery of Western Australia, 2024. Image © RONE. Photo: Rift Photography.

 

TIME • RONE


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