His first major exhibition in Australia since 2006, Ricky Swallow's 'The Bricoleur' opens at Melbourne's Ian Potter Centre on October 16.

Featuring several of his infamous and intricately detailed, carved wooden sculptures, the exhibition will also feature a range of new sculptural works in wood, bronze and plaster. Most exciting, however, is the inclusion of two large groups of watercolours, 'an aspect of Swallow's practice that is not as well known as his trademark works' and a body of work well worth witnessing. 

Salad Days (2005) and Killing Time (2003-4), which featured in the 2005 Venice Biennale, can also be seen – both pieces are considered Swallow icons.

Swallow’s most recent work, completed over the past year is varied. From the bronze balloons on which bronze barnacles seamlessly cling of Caravan; to a series of cast bronze archery targets in Bowman's Record  - reminiscent of desecrated, minimalist paintings. The carved, wooden sculpture of a human skull inside what looks like a paper bag can be seen in Fig 1.

A highlight of the show will be Swallow's watercolour, One Nation Underground (2007), which was recently acquired by the NGV. The work presents a collection of images based on 1960s musicians including Tim Buckley, Denny Doherty, Brian Jones and John Phillips.

Ricky Swallow: The Bricoleur will be on display from 16 October 2009 until 28 February 2010 at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia.