In Celebration (on not knowing)
Gallery 4A, Sydney, New South Wales, March - April 2002.
SQ Foyer Gallery, Toowoomba, Queensland, May 2002.
Craft Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, September 2002.
This exhibition In Celebration (on not knowing) shows an enduring fascination with handmade objects and plays with materiality, scale and pattern. At that time I was intrigued with traditional handcrafted objects that global trade brought to our stores along with containers of manufactured goods from China.
This body of work continued my investigation into the visual arts and crafts of China. It also marks an ongoing interest in establishing dialogue and exploring relationships across cultures, a central concern of my practice that has evolved over decades.
“I have selected a variety of items that are used as decorations when celebrating or marking a significant time: paper lanterns and decorations, paper cut outs representing the zodiac signs and tokens for good fortune.
These small fragile objects convey desires, aspirations and hopes; for health, family, good fortune and prosperity; yearnings common across cultures.
I am interested in the tension between the fragility of these objects and the aspirations they represent, and the magnitude of life events, which often overtake us.”
Materially this exhibition was conceived to allow a development of techniques mastered with acrylic paint and carpet tiles. At the time I sought a more sculptural way of working with these media. As always colour, surface, visual tactility, pattern and form were important.
The work began a move into industrial processes of fabrication that found a logical extension into my later work in the public domain. While the large hanging fish sculpture was hand-cut, the almost 200 discs for the paper lanterns were die-cut. Another innovation and conceptual extension was to experiment with water-jet cutting to produce the paper-cuts in carpet tile. (My previous paper-cut works were hand-cut with a scalpel). These processes have allowed me to reconsider the objects in terms of editions, pushing beyond an initial fascination with the handcrafted object.
Installation view and detail: Gallery 4A, Sydney, 2002.
In Celebration – Padded & embroidered double fish and lotus hanging, Qianyang Shaanxi Province.
Acrylic paint on carpet tiles and cotton cord + canvas, with wire support. 2500 x 1200 x 150mm.
Exhibition photography by Greg Weight, Gallery 4A, Sydney.
In Celebration – Paper lanterns.
(12 works) Acrylic paint on water jet cut carpet tiles and cotton cord, MDF support. 600 x 250mm approx.
Exhibition photography by Greg Weight, Gallery 4A, Sydney.
In Celebration – Zodiac paper-cuts.
(4 Editions of 12) Acrylic paint on carpet tiles, water jet cut. 480 x 480mm approx.
Exhibition photography by Greg Weight, Gallery 4A, Sydney.
Process: Works in development
Works in development photography by Rod Buchholz and Mandy Ridley.
The catalogue of works
The items recreated for this exhibition include both wall hung and suspended objects. The artworks presented comprised paper lanterns, paper-cuts and a large embroidered hanging work, all created with carpet tiles and other materials surfaced with acrylic paint:
In Celebration – Padded & embroidered double fish and lotus hanging, Qianyang Shaanxi Province.
Acrylic paint on carpet tiles and cotton cord + canvas, with wire support. 2500 x 1200 x 150mm.
In Celebration – Paper lanterns.
(12 works) Acrylic paint on water jet cut carpet tiles and cotton cord, MDF support. 600 x 250mm approx.
In Celebration – Zodiac paper-cuts.
(4 Editions of 12) Acrylic paint on carpet tiles, water jet cut. 480 x 480mm approx.
The venues / dates
March – April 2002
The exhibition opened at Gallery 4A in Sydney. An initiative of the Asian Australian Arts Centre, Gallery 4a has established a reputation for presenting a diversity of quality contemporary work to an informed audience.
May 2002
The presentation of the exhibition at the USQ Foyer Gallery in Toowoomba gave regional audiences exposure.
September 2002
The exhibition was presented by Craft Queensland in Brisbane.