GLEAM
30 May - 30 June, 2001
"Forget deconstructionist theory, where can I find that Danish
polymer cordless table-lamp that caused such a sensation at the
Milan design fair?"
GLEAM
Curated by Chris Chapman
Kate Stryker, Tim Sterling, James Dodd,
Yoko Kajio
One of Christchurch's sister cities, Adelaide is often described akin to Christchurch,
both geographically, and in their relationship to bigger centres
(Auckland, Sydney). Christchurch based The Physics Room and Adelaide
art project space the Experimental Art Foundation have had an informal
relationship for some time, culminating in 2001 with a series of
exchange exhibitions drawing on the similar experiences and aims
of the two organisations.
Christchurch based The Physics
Room and Adelaide art project space the Experimental Art Foundation have
had an informal relationship for some time, culminating in 2001 with a
series of exchange exhibitions drawing on the similar experiences and
aims of the two organisations.
Gleam, the first in the series,
contains work by four Adelaide artists with
a relationship to certain codes of contemporary design, graphics, and
magazine culture. Gleam suggests certain kind of product-placement, and
a
confident and positive attitude. The work plays on a hip appeal but also
slices through it. The slippery connections between art and a particular
kind of consumer culture are played on, yet the artists are not so
interested in deconstructing media methodology, but rather in altering
the
form via codification and poetics.
Kate Stryker's photographic images are derived from urban neon signage, transforming
ubiquitous urban marketing into abstract imagery more suggestive
of a sunset than a supermarket, creating images that appear to be
painting with light. Light is also important to Yoko Kajio, who
uses projected light and translucent materials to create environmental
works, in Gleam presenting a video projection whose imagery suggests
digital paradigms, circuitry or synthetic regimes.
Tim Sterling works with coding,
using a system of word association generate
images which are translated into objects by meticulously hand-sawing thin
sheets of MDF. The elements in Gleam - a Mongolian hat, a necklace, and
various plant structures, are transformed by placement into an abstract
network of graphic 3D forms.
James Dodd's enthusiasm for
the evolving graphic codes of urban culture
have resulted in the creation of several large scales wall paintings which
draw upon, and contribute to, the localized languages of skate and BMX
culture and street art. Responding to both local and global imperatives,
Dodd's hybridized text-forms suggest a future language, or better, an
existing one customized by its users.
The Physics Room would like
to acknowledge Creative New Zealand/Toi Aotearoa as major funder of The
Physics Room, and thank the EAF, the Australia Council for the Arts and
the Arts Council of South Australia for their support of this project.
See Essay
by Chris Chapman
THE PHYSICS ROOM
Second Floor
Old Central Post Office Building
209 Tuam Street
Christchurch
PO Box 22-351
Christchurch NZ
T +643 379 5583
F +643 379 6063
physicsroom@physicsroom.org.nz
www.physicsroom.org.nz
Wed to Fri 11-5.30, Sat 11-3, Sun 12-3
EXPERIMENTAL ART
FOUNDATION
Lion Arts Centre
North Terrace at Morphett Street
Adelaide
South Australia 5000
PO Box 8091
Station Arcade SA 5000
T + 618 8211 7505
F +618 8211 7323
eaf@eaf.asn.au
bookshop: eafbooks@eaf.asn.au
www.eaf.asn.au
GLEAM was first shown at the Experimental Art Foundation, Adelaide, in October
2000. The exhibition also included works by Peter Harding, who is
not participating in the tour. The presentation of GLEAM at The
Physics Room is assisted by Arts South Australia. The Experimental
Art Foundation is supported by the Commonwealth Government through
the Visual Arts Craft Fund of the Australia Council, and the South
Australian Government through Arts SA. The Physics Room receives
major funding from Creative
New Zealand Toi Aotearoa. Tim Sterling and Kate Stryker are
assisted by the Pat Corrigan Artists Grants scheme.
Reviews & Essays
GLEAM - curated by Chris Chapman
Essay by Chris Chapman
in The Physics
Room Annual 2001
ISBN 0-9582359-1-0
Sister
city art shows
Christchurch star, 2001 May 30, p. B3
Work from Adelaide at the Physics Room.
It's hip to be flat
Log 14, Spring 2001, p. 32-33
Bugden, Emma
Gleam curated by Chris Chapman
<also available
on-line>
Gleam
The Package, June, 2001
Claire
A Retards Guide to Culture
Canta 2001, p.22, 2001
Andrew Paul Wood
Gleam Group Show
The Press, Wednesday 27 June, 2001
Dorothee Pauli
Gleam at the Physics Room
Presto, June, 2001
Matthew Appleby
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