Rone on TIME • RONE; the Women in the Murals; and Things Not Lasting

Switchboard Room© RONE 2024 Renowned Australian street artist, Rone, unveils his first major exhibition at the Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA). Titled TIME • RONE, this immersive experience brings visitors back to a forgotten era of Australian history. Rone’s signature large-scale murals of women span across 12 rooms of the Centenary Galleries, which makes it the first time in nearly 20 years that the galleries are fully open to the public. Inviting visitors to explore themes of beauty, decay, and the search for meaning in everyday moments, Rone’s work is further heightened by stylist Carly Spooner and composer Nick Batterham as the spaces spring to life with a haunting soundscape and installations. We queried Rone about his exhibition, the woman behind his work, and the attraction of impermanence. ESQUIRE: What goes into your process of the type of woman that goes with the kind of wall/environment? How do you settle on the location and subject? Rone: Everything really depends on the location, if it’s a public wall, I will try and paint someone local or representative of the area, as this seems to create the best engagement with the people who live in the area. Depending on the orientation...