Thrash
Curated by Emma Bugden
EAF, Adelaide
28 June - 28 July 2001
In part two of the exhibition
exchange between Christchurchs The Physics Room, and The Experimental
Art Foundation, from Adelaide, EAF presents Thrash, an exhibition of artists
curated by Emma Bugden of The Physics Room. Sharing a civic relationship
in their (sister) cities, the two spaces have had an informal relationship
for some time, culminating with this current series.
The artists in Thrash mix up humor and
satire in generous scoopings, informed by both the stark aestheticism
of an art historical minimalism, and the throwaway consumerism of contemporary
pop culture. Discursive, often oblique or throwaway, their work focuss
on the ordinary stuff of lives, finding humor and critique in the everyday
matter and transforming the mundane and unseen.
Part scavenger and part hobbyist constructor, Dan Arps creates sprawling installations
which colonize space, crawling up walls, hanging off windows and
ceilings, and spilling out doors. From meticulous cardboard and
paper constructions to warehouse buckets and $2 shop detitrus, Arps
gathers material seemingly randomly, yet each installation is painstakingly
built up and layered. For Thrash Arpss constructions
span the back section of the gallery, a mix of selections from his
ongoing project The Museum of X and Dolphins, (which displays
artifacts which contain an X or dolphin
theme to them) and a diverse range of objects the artist found in
hardware stores in Adelaide, and in the gallerys back rooms
- plastic dolphins nestle with white plugs inside a bucket, a light
glows under an eighties print of a tacky Christchurch building,
the paraphernalia of storerooms - bubble wrap, polystyrene,
cardboard.
Minimal to the point of barely there, much of
Ella Reed's work plays on subtle interventions which tease and often perplex
the viewer. In Thrash Ellas work is placed discretely in
the accompanying gallery bookshop, a small TV monitor playing a range
of commonplace videos, which can be changed at will by the audience. Placed
at an angle at which both staff and public can view, Ellas work
offers a brief respite from the sometimes arduous experiences of academia
and theory, providing a range of entertainment options for the viewer
in a piece which is more generous than cynical.
Ngai Tahu artist and filmmaker Nathan Pohios
work is infused with an enjoyment of the vagaries and idiosyncrasies of
those around him. Highlighting bizarre obsessions and quests, his work
is a playful celebration of the weird and wonderful in us all. In Sleeper,
included in Thrash, two monitors face off against each other, one
showing a close-up of the artists nephew sleeping, his childs face
innocent and unexposed. On the other monitor plays the continuos shot
of the boys ceiling view, day glo stars and planets lit against
the dark. Capturing a moment in time with his unerring instinct for a
gentle, yet biting humor Sleeper is a work which is both playful
and touching.
Creating a whimsical tableau of danger and intrigue,
Julaine Stephenson presents a snapshot of her larger-than-life, soft toy
creations Sugar and Candy in a piece entitled Sugar Takes Candy
Out. In an earlier episode at Christchurchs public art space the
Kiosk, Sugar, in a spate of greediness, was found ripping superfluous
pieces of body adornment off Skater girl (AKA Candy). Unsatisfied with
the recent spillage of blood, the pint sized femme fatale then called
in the heavyweights to rid her world of the scourge of Candy. Now Sugar
has discovered haute cuisine and the ancient art of the Ta-ke-a-way. Sugar's
still out for a piece of Candy!
SeeEssay by Emma Bugden
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 Thrash
- curated by Emma Bugden for the Experimental Art Foundation
Essay by Emma Bugden
in The Physics
Room Annual 2001
ISBN 0-9582359-1-0
Thrash
Mix
Log 14, Spring 2001, p. 32-33
Chapman, Chris
Thrash curated by Emma Bugden
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