Chen Man Miss Wan Studies Hard 2011 archival ink-jet print 50.0 x 74.0cm reproduction courtesy of the artist
CHINA: Grain to Pixel
An Australia first EXHIBITION at MGA
MGA (Monash Gallery of Art), Australia’s only gallery dedicated to the collection and exhibition of photography, announces China: Grain to Pixel, an exciting international exhibition presenting a survey of Chinese photography over the past 150 years for the first time to Australian audiences.
This highly anticipated exhibition will unveil an unique insight into China’s recent history as told through the stunning evolution of a culture made visual via the lens.
MGA Director Kallie Blauhorn believes the works offer an intriguing insight into the somewhat obscure history of Chinese photography, from an era of black-and-white documentary images through to imaginary contemporary visions.
“China: Grain to Pixel will be the first from-then-to-now survey of Chinese photography presented in Australia,” said Blauhorn. “The exhibition showcases a beautiful range of images, which illuminate the breadth of visual culture in China.”
Blauhorn continued, “It is also the first time that this survey will be exhibited outside of China, which is a significant moment for MGA and Australia’s photographic community. It is a privilege to host these important works and to play a role in fostering cultural relations between international galleries. In addition and as important, we hope that these efforts can pave the way for collaborations between MGA and international institutions to exhibit Australian photography.”
China: Grain to Pixel features 150 works by 70 Chinese photographers including: Chen Man, Cai Shanxiong, Han Lei, Jiang Zhi, Li Lang, Luo Dan, Liu Heung Shing, Yang Yongliang and Zhang Yaxin.
China: Grain to Pixel
Exhibition Dates: 5 June to 28 August 2016
Opening Celebration: 5 June 2016 at 2pm
MGA Location: 860 Ferntree Gully Road, Wheelers Hill, Victoria, Australia
|
|
|
Minor Handling is an installation of textile and video elements by Melbourne based artist Bess Davey.
The work documents attempts to recreate a connection to tactile making processes in a post-industrial context. Part craft, part online DIY, part homewares display, the installation reflects on a naïve desire to regain a lost sense of intimacy with materials. Mimicking everyday objects, the works suggest a connection to principles of utilitarian design, however are ultimately impractical and somehow absurd. The end result is a questioning of how tactile processes of making, based on knowledge acquired through touch, can inhabit a culture in which objects in our everyday surroundings appear to us as enigmatically prefabricated entities.
|
Coming up:
30 June to 10 July, Akiko Nagino
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
STABILO AWARDS SHOWCASE THE BEST IN AUSTRALIAN CONTEMPORARY ILLUSTRATION
The inaugural STABILO Awards will take place 2pm Tuesday 19th July at Whitehouse Institute of Design’s Surry Hills campus. Featuring an esteemed panel of judges including Louise Olsen, Stephen Ormandy and Claudia Chan Shaw, the awards will feature illustrations from over 200 entrants, with students from Whitehouse Institute of Design (Sydney and Melbourne), Raffles College of Design & Commerce (Sydney), Tractor Design School (Sydney) and ISCD (Sydney) all participating. A number of the judge’s favourite illustrations will be displayed at the awards, which will be held at Whitehouse’s state-of-the-art exhibition space – complete with sweeping city views.
For over 150 years, writing instrument experts STABILO have fostered the ambitions of millions of discerning artists around the world. Renowned for an extensive array of pens, markers and pencils, STABILO products are at the forefront of contemporary design. Tirelessly innovative and relentlessly dedicated to their craft, the STABILO Awards are continued proof of the brand’s commitment to the next generation of Australian artists.
Each entry will be completed using solely STABILO products, including Carbothello pencils, watercolour pencils and the brand’s signature pens, the Point 68 and Point 88. The awards will also be centred around STABILO’s theme, ‘Free Your True Colours’, which involves ‘expressing your personality, your dreams, your ambition and your potential’ via the medium of colour.
“STABILO provides students with the right tools to nurture their creativity, and ‘Free Your True Colours’ is precisely the sort of attitude we encourage in all our students,” says Peter Dwyer, Senior Lecturer, Whitehouse Institute of Design.
The winning entrant will have their finished design featured on STABILO’s website and social media channels, and will also win a trip for two to the world-famous Louvre museum in Paris, home to arguably the world’s most famous illustration, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. A selection of the judge’s favourite entrants will also have their works auctioned for charity, with all proceeds going to the Awards’ partnered charity, the Australia and New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group (ANZGOG), the lead group for gynaecological clinical trials in Australia and New Zealand.
Adam Coey, Brand Manager, STABILO, says, “STABILO is thoroughly committed to the next generation of artists and designers, and seeing how they utilise the brand’s products with such esteem and in so many different ways perfectly encapsulates all that the brand stands for. We can’t wait to see the finished designs on the 19th July”.
Developed in partnership by Signal and Artful Dodger Studios, the new workshop series will see visual artist Deborah Kelly mentoring young people to create large scale collage art works.
These works will be developed in June at Signal’s creative arts studio on Northbank before being screened at Signal and Federation Square and exhibited in prominent locations across the city later this year.
Arts and Culture portfolio Chair Councillor Rohan Leppert encouraged young people to get involved in the workshops.
“This new workshop series is the latest exciting offering from the City of Melbourne’s innovative Signal program which gives young people a wonderful opportunity to explore their creativity and their city,” Councillor Leppert said.
“To grow Melbourne as a leading creative city, the City of Melbourne is committed to ensuring that the next generation of artists have opportunities to be mentored and the space to explore, create and showcase their work.”
Workshops take place at Signal on Saturday 18 June, Saturday 25 June and on Monday 27, Tuesday 28 and Wednesday 29 June from 11am to 4pm each day.
Young people are also invited to participate in a conversation with Deborah Kelly which takes place prior to the workshops on Friday 17 June at 6pm in Studio 1 ACMI.
Deborah has been working in socially engaged practice with communities for many years, producing art that unpacks gender and media representations and explores elusive questions of community.
Working with a collection of imagery hand-picked from second hand stores, libraries and garage sales she collects and recombines images to re-present the world in affectionate and humorous ways.
Signal is a creative arts studio for young people 13 to 25. At Signal, young people work alongside professional artists in a collaborative way. It is a place for making, showing, inspiring and developing Melbourne’s creative young talent – in every medium. Signal is located behind Flinders Street Station on Northbank, in the Les Erdi Plaza.
For more information and to book, visit the Signal website.
