Exhibited at Colville Gallery, nipaluna Hobart

In her new exhibition Some Kind of Peace, Donna Lougher records signs of life returning to Hobart after the world-altering events of 2020. 

From her 10th floor studio, Donna was witness to the tentative steps made as we returned to the physical environment of the city. The familiar skyline and the gridded streets of Hobart ground us in a world before COVID19. Yet dots on the pavement and gaps between people are a reminder the world is not the same and we must adjust to new ways of moving about the city and interacting with each other. 

Staying in one place, watching and waiting was the only option for most of us during a year of profound upheaval tinged with grief for a way we used to live. In her view from above, Donna has captured the isolation so many of us felt. 

Yet moving from night time views into the bright of day there are signs of life in Donna’s work – early morning light on kunanyi, plants growing on window sills and rooftops, the high-vis of construction returning – twinkling spots of hope on the horizon. 

Kate Lansell

©donnalougher 2026

Back to the Sky 2021 87 x 137 cm Synthetic polymer on polyester Private Collection

Green Roof 2021 87 x 137 cm Synthetic polymer on polyester

Kunyanyi at Dawn 2021 87 x 137 cm Synthetic polymer on polyester Private Collection

Night Window 2020 76 x 122 cm Synthetic polymer on polyester

Three Men on a Roof 2020 66 x 107 cm Synthetic polymer on polyester Private Collection

City Window 2021 107 x 66 cm Synthetic polymer on polyester Private Collection

City Window II 2021 107 x 66 cm Synthetic polymer on polyester

I Like Traffic Lights 2020 102 x 61 cm Synthetic polymer on polyester Private Collection

The Stairwell 2021 92 x 56 cm Synthetic polymer on polyester Private Collection

Colour Change 2020 92 x 56 cm Synthetic polymer on polyester Private Collection

Light Changes 2020 86 x 56 cm Synthetic polymer on polyester

The Heart Garden 2020 51 x 82 cm Synthetic polymer on polyester Private Collection

The Green Bottle 2020 82 x 51 cm Synthetic polymer on polyester Private Collection

Circulations 2020 76 x 46 cm Synthetic polymer on polyester Private Collection

Green Thoughts East 2021 66 x 41 cm Synthetic polymer on polyester Private Collection

Green Thoughts West 2021 66 x 41 cm Synthetic polymer on polyester Private Collection

The Tasman, Hobart 2021 51 x 30 cm Synthetic polymer on polyester Private collection

Windowsill 2020 30 x 51 cm Synthetic polymer on polyester Private collection

Gathering 2020 56 x 36 cm Synthetic polymer on polyester

Green Light 2020 51 x 33 cm Synthetic polymer on polyester