Bill Henson Exhibition

You can tell a lot about Bill Henson from the opening night of his latest exhibition at Paddington's Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery. Firstly because it was billed as an exclusive private viewing and, secondly, because it was absolutely packed. Henson has built a reputation around the world – his work featuring at New York's Guggenheim and the Venice Biennale over the years – but what he's best known for, in Australia at least, is his 2008 show, also at Roslyn Oxley9 gallery, where police seized his work, shut down the exhibition and created a national controversy.

This show is more subdued. And although it is less provocative than previous outings, the subject matter will likely come as little surprise to those familiar with Henson's work – large prints, mostly of adolescents, naked, facing away from the camera and captured in whimsical, almost ethereal poses, their skin shiny and smooth and almost metallic. Although they're clearly photographs, the composition of his images gives them a soft, almost painterly look.

Judging from the not-so-private viewing, the show will no doubt be popular, and it's worth checking out not only because of the undeniable beauty of much of Henson's work, but because so many people know Bill Henson the controversy, and so few know Bill Henson the artist.