Parallel universes and beautiful volcanoes
Safari Team, Dig to China
A collection of exciting works ranging from the absurd to the surreal, by some of Australia’s hottest contemporary artists will be on display in Beautiful Volcanoes, a new exhibition at Monash University’s Faculty Gallery.
Beautiful Volcanoes will showcase an eclectic collection of works by local and international artists associated with Monash University, presented through humour and disorientation.
Dr Michael Vale, Lecturer in Fine Arts and Curator, Monash University said Beautiful Volcanoes showcases irrational and absurdist practices within the Faculty of Art & Design.
“Despite their geo-physical anarchy, volcanoes bring renewal, not to mention spectacular displays of strange and scorching beauty. The exhibition reflects on this theme by exploring the work of those who recklessly raid history, popular culture and literature in order to enact poetic regurgitations,” said Dr Vale.
Traditionally, classical art has presented the world in a utopian state, ignoring undercurrents of the weird and uncanny. This is seen in Safari Team’s video and collage series Dig to China: Part three (pictured), which portrays three adventurers contemplating an heroic expedition into the irrational. Paul Yore’s window installation and Penny Trotter’s visit to a dog show present humourous critique, while a series of self-portraits by English artist Brian Catling conjures up the ghosts of literature past.
“The artists in this exhibition represent many approaches – among them the theatre of wilful stupidity, snapshots of parallel universes, and history up-ended. A romantic embrace of the absurd demands an unruliness of design and visual raucousness that is often at odds with the tasteful,” said Dr Vale.
Beautiful Volcanoes will feature work by Kieran Boland, Michael Bullock, Brian Catling & David Tolley, Laura Delaney, Storm Gold, Kelley Glaister, Iolanthe Iezzi, Andrew Kershaw, Melinda Morna, Steven Rendall, Alicia Renew, Safari Team, Amelie Scalercio, Penny Trotter, Michael Vale, Kent Wilson, and Paul Yore, with special performances by the Donkey’s Tail and Storm Gold.
Beautiful Volcanoes will be on display at Faculty Gallery, Monash University, Caulfield, from 3 August to 3 September 2011. Entry is free.
Faculty Gallery is open 10am-5pm Mon-Fri and 12noon-5pm Saturday.
Opening night will take place on Wednesday 3 August from 6-8pm with a special performance by experimental garage ensemble the Donkey’s Tail.