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Virtual Exhibitions

A weekly series of solo and group virtual exhibitions curated from our stockroom. An extension of our gallery to a virtual space, the series offers a place to connect with our artists while at home.

Mapping Our Own Future
NEITHER HERE NOR THERE
Mapping Our Own Future

NEITHER HERE NOR THERE

In our current online group exhibition, Arts Project reflects on the 'COVID-hump' that has resulted in a general state of collective ambivalence. Questions abound about whether to stay home or go out, to remain in the digital realm or connect in person. At this particular moment in time, it seems that what we decide to do is neither here nor there. Despite being told we can go back into work and gather in small groups, relaxing the rules is inconsequential. Societally, we're not 100% sure what's best to do, and our longing to race back into the world has waned as we remain suspended in an ongoing state of hypervigilance. Our movements are restricted creating awkward noncontact interactions 1.5-meter apart—it's hardly a desirable scenario. As creatures of habit, we've quickly adapted to the reality of staying home and, as we hurl toward winter, the thought of emerging from the comfort and safety of home will be more challenging than we first thought. The artwork selected for Neither here nor there touches on some of these notions of uncertainty and longing. Collections of emotive digital prints are juxtaposed with highly tactile and visceral handmade objects, forcing the viewer to reflect on feelings of ambivalence in this historic moment. Featuring work by Alan Constable, Ruth Howard, Miles Howard-Wilks, James MacSporran, Chris O'Brien, Georgia Szmerling, Lachlan Turk and Terry Williams. Scroll through the exhibition below, or view and download the PDF here. [ngg src="galleries" ids="30" display="basic_thumbnail"] Produced by Sim Luttin, Gallery Manager and Curator at Arts Project Australia 

SPOT EXHIBITION
Mapping Our Own Future

SPOT EXHIBITION

Spot Exhibition brings together fourteen of Samraing Chea’s most recent coloured pencil drawings. The works blend Samraing’s uncanny skill for recalling images from factual books, found images and animated movies. He devotes hours to the careful construction of each work, relying on memory and a personal library of images on his laptop as reference. The signature line of text at the bottom of each drawing often describes his initial inspiration or adds a humorous thought for the viewer to decode the depicted scene. Themes are wide-ranging and often mysterious, begging the question; where does it come from? Samraing’s answer is often as cryptic as the drawings themselves yet these small comic type narratives reveal a deep insight into his sentimental love of popular culture, Americana and the urban environment he lives in.   Scroll through exhibition below or view PDF here. [ngg src="galleries" ids="29" display="basic_thumbnail"]  This exhibition coincides with the group show Mindfulness in Abstraction. Produced by Jo Salt, Gallery Administrator at Arts Project Australia. 
MINDFULNESS IN ABSTRACTION
Mapping Our Own Future

MINDFULNESS IN ABSTRACTION

  Mindfulness in Abstraction presents a collection of work curated with the intention of exploring the notion that, for the sake of sanity, we might break from thoughts of our current global predicament and find a moment of repose. There is a great deal of power in the act of simply observing and absorbing; slowing down and shifting from rapid patterns of thought to a more focused and streamlined state. Engaging with the works in this collection requires the ability to be still in the act of seeing; to consume line, space, colour and texture and to consider shape and form, allowing the underlying quality or feeling to be taken in like breath. This is a moment without politics, data, logistics or preoccupations, but rather one of simplicity, harmony, emotion and beauty. A moment of freedom from the incessant barrage of information and a chance to recalibrate and find some space and clarity. Featuring work by Julian Martin, Christopher Sahyoun, Jacob Cartelli, Phillip Truett, Robin Warren, Sam Forster, Rebecca Scibilia, Fulli Andrinopoulos, Alvaro Alvarez and Kaye McDonald. Scroll through the exhibition below or, alternatively, you can view or download a PDF here. [ngg src="galleries" ids="28" display="basic_thumbnail"]This exhibition coincides with Samraing Chea's solo show Spot Exhibition. Produced by Jo Salt, Gallery Administrator at Arts Project Australia 

FROM THE STREETS
Mapping Our Own Future

FROM THE STREETS

  James MacSporran has worked toward presenting his first solo show since October 2019—the work is sitting in the Arts Project stockroom stretched, framed, and ready to install. He'd carefully developed the theme, planned the layout, edited the abstract and titled his show. His solo exhibition, aptly titled From The Streets, was finalised in February 2020 and ready to install in March. Then COVID-19 hit, and our Northcote gallery closed indefinitely.  His solo show is rescheduled for early 2021 and will be one of the first shows presented in our Northcote gallery when it reopens. However, we couldn't wait to share his latest collection with the world, so here it is—published online as a virtual teaser of what's to come.  MacSporran (b 1970) is an emerging artist who has a painting and drawing practice that occasionally expands to include collage—preferring to work on medium-scale when in the studio, large-scale when working on public murals. Stylistically, his practice synthesises graffiti and abstraction, resulting in intricate paintings that conjure references to street art, mazes, and old-style arcade games. From The Streets presents a dynamic selection of recent multi-layered small and mid-sized artworks on paper and canvas.   MacSporran has featured in group exhibitions in Australia and Hong Kong, and his work is held in private collections Australiawide.  Scroll through exhibition below or view PDF here. [ngg src="galleries" ids="25" display="basic_thumbnail"]This exhibition coincides with group show Fortune Favours the Brave
FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE
Mapping Our Own Future

FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE

In Fortune Favours the Brave, Art Project Australia explores concepts of courage and bold creative undertakings that help to shape the life we live. Faced with enormous challenges associated with isolation, APA artists have turned obstacles into opportunities and, as a result, have been as busy as ever creating new work, zooming with peers and embracing the digital realm as a virtual space to work and share ideas.  Life throws all kinds of circumstances at us—good and bad—that we have little or no control over, and personal rewards don't always reflect our efforts and good intentions. However, what we can influence is how we respond to any given situation and, consequently, we can choose a path that gives ourselves the best shot at a good life. In that vein many of our artists, with support from APA, their families and networks, have embraced change and established temporary studios at home; for some artists, it's a table in the kitchen, while for others it's an entire room or shed. One thing is clear—APA artists are making the most of a difficult situation and are responding in the best way possible—by making art. Just before the pandemic, we were in the stockroom admiring recent work created in our studio. In this new world, as individual artists and as an organisation, we've quickly adapted: we have been fearless and dared to be different. Our approach can only bring good fortune and positive vibes our way, right?   The artists selected in Fortune Favours the Brave have a bold and gutsy approach to their art practice, something we can't help but admire and celebrate, especially in times like these.  Featuring work by Alvaro Alvarez, Suzanne Barnes, Michael Camakaris, Jacob Cartelli, Valerio Ciccone, Alan Constable, Salome Felsinger, Gavin Porter, Adrian Lazzaro, Anne Lynch, Anthony Romagnano, Laura Sheehan, Amani Tia and Paul Quick.  Scroll through exhibition below or view PDF here. [ngg src="galleries" ids="24" display="basic_thumbnail"]This exhibition coincides with James MacSporran's solo show From the Streets. 
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS
Mapping Our Own Future

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

Strength in Numbers delights in the moments and reflects on a time when we could do fun stuff (when was that again?...what day is it?). Outdoor pursuits with groups of friends, family or perfect strangers; swimming in a lake, going on a hike, riding a roller-coaster, going dancing or to the theatre, to a wedding or out for dinner. Just gathering. Although it seems the adventures and events shared in groups are a distant memory, belief in the common good is very much alive, and realised through collective participation and the formation of a shared will. We are defined as a culture by our stories, thoughts, feelings, images and moments. These things still exist and are being circulated in great abundance in the virtual realm. We may need to actively avoid the trash, but the impulse to share and keep connected is such that pleasure, meaning and joy can survive through this period. Digital platforms have enabled dancers to keep dancing with one another, artists to keep producing together and friends to keep gathering. And while we can’t ride rollercoasters just yet, we will soon. And until then there’s Netflix Party. Featuring work by Anthony Romagnano, Paul Hodges, Leo Cussen, Amani Tia, Bobby Kyriakopoulos, Steven Ajzenberg, Terry Williams, Lisa Reid, Michelle Coulson, Samraing Chea and Cathy Staughton. Scroll through exhibition below or view PDF here. [ngg src="galleries" ids="19" display="basic_thumbnail"]  This exhibition coincides with Bronwyn Hack's solo show The Bonds that Bind Us Produced by Jo Salt, Gallery Administrator at Arts Project Australia.
THE BONDS THAT BIND US
Mapping Our Own Future

THE BONDS THAT BIND US

Bronwyn Hack is known for her multi-faceted practice which spans sculpture, painting, printmaking and ceramics. Her latest suite of 2D works completed towards the end of 2019 continue to display the artist's characteristic composition; merging subject and background to form a consolidated linear perspective. The subject matter in this body of work is remarkably timely, exploring the intimate bonds that exist between Hack and her friends and colleagues at Arts Project Australia, and in turn the bonds they share with their pets. The images are particularly poignant in this moment, serving as a reminder of those who are missed as we move through a period of lockdown, the solace found in our furry companions and the notion that the strongest bonds have adversity in their framework. The tender portrayal of the subject matter unearths ideas around connection, trust, protection, love and companionship.  Bronwyn Hack has worked in the studio at Arts Project Australia since 2011. In 2016 she held a solo exhibition at Arts Project Australia entitled Be Careful Now and has exhibited in numerous group exhibitions including Auto Body Works curated by Patricia Sharkey, Arts Project Australia, Melbourne (2018); Wild Lands, Linden New Art Melbourne (2016); Nests, Northcity4, Melbourne (2015); My Puppet, My Secret Self, The Substation, Newport (2012); and Melbourne Art Fair, Melbourne (2012 & 2014). In 2018 Hack participated the Artist in Residence Program at Australian Tapestry Workshop. Scroll through exhibition below or view PDF here. [ngg src="galleries" ids="18" display="basic_thumbnail"]     This exhibition coincides with the group show Strength in Numbers Produced by Jo Salt, Gallery Administrator at Arts Project Australia.      

TIME FOR A DVD
Mapping Our Own Future

TIME FOR A DVD

When all else fails, throw on a DVD. We are reasonably sure this is one of the popular solutions for dealing with cabin fever, boredom and the cold weather (in Melbourne at least) that is permeating our home lives at the moment. Maybe "let's see what's on Netflix, Stan, MUBI or Spotify" is your household catch-cry. Whatever medium or streaming service takes your fancy, when life throws us a curve-ball we turn to art, music and entertainment to get us through. Perhaps, now more than ever, we can tackle that stack of books that have accumulated by our bed, the collection of DVDs on the bookshelf or the movies we've saved to our watch-list that we never seem to have time to watch. In our latest virtual exhibition Time for a DVD, we present a light-hearted selection of past and present entertainment-inspired artworks, that speak to the 'now' as well as inspire us to revisit old greats. Featuring work by Peter Ben, Dionne Canzano, Boris Cipusev, Leo Cussen, Cameron Gresswell, Paul Hodges, Bobby Kyriakopoulos, Lisa Reid, Anthony Romagnano and Cathy Staughton. Scroll through exhibition below or view PDF here. [ngg src="galleries" ids="16" display="basic_thumbnail"]  This exhibition coincides with Fulli Andrinopoulos' solo show Ethereal Impressions. Produced by Sim Luttin, Curator and Gallery Manager at Arts Project Australia.  

ETHEREAL IMPRESSIONS
Mapping Our Own Future

ETHEREAL IMPRESSIONS

Fulli Andrinopoulos' work is characterised by soft, floating colours that exude richness through the build-up of dense layers of rich pigment. The works are tactile and ethereal, with an emotive quality akin to that of Rothko. Her works on paper and, more recently, textile translations, are intimate yet evoke a sense of awe and the unknown. Andrinopoulos (b 1965) has worked at the Arts Project Australia studio since 1991, where she held her first solo exhibition in 2012. She has exhibited in numerous group exhibitions including Melbourne Art Fair, Melbourne (2004-2018), as well as FEM-aFFINITY, Arts Project Australia (2019) which is touring nationally (2020-2021). She has also been involved with various projects at a number of institutions including Australian Galleries, Collingwood; Galerie Impaire, Paris; and MADMusée and Musée d'art moderne et d'art contemporain, Liège. Her work is held in the Monash University Museum of Art collection and private collections in Australia. Scroll through exhibition below or view PDF here. [ngg src="galleries" ids="15" display="basic_thumbnail"]  This exhibition coincides with the online group show Time for a DVD  Produced by Sim Luttin, Curator and Gallery Manager at Arts Project Australia.

SILVER LININGS
Mapping Our Own Future

SILVER LININGS

When times get tough, holding onto some semblance of hope helps us get through the dark days. The saying 'every cloud has a silver lining' springs to mind, reminding us that we will get through this and that there are positive things that will come out of this present time. New opportunities will present themselves and come to the fore. As artists and people working in the creative field, we can impact people's lives by sharing artwork that reflects good things about the human spirit and ways of viewing the world. In our latest offering 'Silver Linings', we've put together a selection of work by artists from our studio who have honed in on moments of joy, freedom and the sublime. Featuring work by Fulli Andrinopoulos, Alan Constable, Michelle Coulson, Paul Hodges, Kate Knight, Bobby Kyriakopoulos, Julian Martin, Will Murray, Rosie O'Brien, Chris Sahyoun, and Georgia Szmerling. Scroll through exhibition below or view PDF here. [ngg src="galleries" ids="14" display="basic_thumbnail"] This exhibition coincides with Chris Mason's solo show 'SSBBW: Super Sized Big Beautiful Women'. Produced by Sim Luttin, Curator and Gallery Manager at Arts Project Australia.

SSBBW: SUPER SIZED BIG BEAUTIFUL WOMEN
Mapping Our Own Future

SSBBW: SUPER SIZED BIG BEAUTIFUL WOMEN

Chris Mason is an accomplished artist working across the disciplines of painting, drawing, sculpture and ceramics. His practice involves extensive research, generating ideas that span across a wide range of subject matter with particular focus on voluptuous female forms and animals such as snakes and fish. Idiosyncratic and humorous, Mason’s works are often inspired by photographs and images collected by the artist. By extension and as part of his process, Mason also writes stories that relate directly to his thematic explorations. With a keen interest in animal rights, Mason has recently extended his practice to experimenting with the possibilities of cruelty-free taxidermy.  Chris Mason has worked in the Arts Project Australia studio since 1997. Solo exhibitions include Chris Mason Solo, Darren Knight Gallery, Sydney, 2014; Michelle, Arts Project Australia Gallery, Melbourne, 2007; and The Chris Mason Show, Arts Project Australia Gallery, Melbourne, 2002. Group exhibitions include Spring1883, The Hotel Windsor, Melbourne, 2018; Auto Body Works (curated by Patrice Sharkey), Arts Project Australia Gallery, Melbourne, 2018; The Public Body, Artspace, Woolloomooloo, Sydney, 2017; The Museum of Everything, Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), Tasmania, 2017; Summer on the blue seat, West Space, Melbourne, 2016; and Outsiderism Fleisher Ollman Gallery, Philapelphia, USA. Collections include the National Gallery of Australia (NGA), State Library of Victoria and National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). Scroll through exhibition below or view PDF here. [ngg src="galleries" ids="13" display="basic_thumbnail"]  This exhibition coincides with the online group show 'Silver Linings'. Produced by Sim Luttin, Curator and Gallery Manager at Arts Project Australia.  
CIRCUIT BREAKER: EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES, EXTRAORDINARY TIMES
Mapping Our Own Future

CIRCUIT BREAKER: EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES, EXTRAORDINARY TIMES

It's not often we get the chance to throw everything up in the air and reconsider the way we do things and how we engage with people. While it's been an uncertain, scary and sometimes tragic time, it's also been creatively exciting when you think about it. For Arts Project Australia, making the difficult decision to close the studio and gallery temporarily has forced us to rethink the way we advocate, support and promote our artists. Like everyone, we've had to shift to communicating and sharing our stories solely online.  Our current circumstances have led us to generate new initiatives that (even though it's early days) show great promise, such as developing an online 'virtual' studio space for our artists to connect, talk and share their artwork and ideas on life and art with our staff. In its infancy, the new program has great potential for future engagement, even after the artists return to the studio. Early in these exceptional times, we decided to move our 2020 exhibition schedule to 2021; to free up space at Arts Project Australia for the gradual return of artists with social distancing. In other words, we have created the space to rethink how we operate this year, and the gallery may very well become an extension of the studio for the short term.  Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures, which has also prompted a rethink of our exhibitions in 2020...no gallery for people to visit, no worries! We'll use this time as a circuit breaker and deliver new shows, artist Q&As and innovative projects online. Who knows - we might come up with something new that we would never have thought of (or thought possible) had it not been for life throwing us one hell of a curveball. Our latest group exhibition features artworks that will make you stop, think twice and reflect. Scroll through exhibition below or view PDF here. [ngg src="galleries" ids="9" display="basic_thumbnail" thumbnail_crop="0"] This exhibition coincides with an online solo of work by Dorothy Berry titled LadyBird: Being Normal is Boring.
LADYBIRD: BEING NORMAL IS BORING
Mapping Our Own Future

LADYBIRD: BEING NORMAL IS BORING

Dorothy Berry is an established artist whose practice spans four decades. While now in her twilight years, she has always approached her practice with great passion, which is evident in the energy and vibrancy of her paintings and drawings. Her work demonstrates a keen interest in animals, particularly birds, and often depicts them in a symbolic sense. Berry has developed an intricate set of signs in order to construct personal narratives and her work often recounts an experience, event, belief or opinion relating to her life. Her compositions frequently consist of an accumulation of these incidents or symbols, instilling the works with personal significance. Dorothy Berry (born 1942) has been a regular studio artist at Arts Project Australia since 1985, and presented four solo exhibitions at Arts Project Australia including; ‘Dorothy Berry – Bird on a Wire’ (2009); ‘A Survey 1987-2002’ (2002); and ‘Recent Works’ (1998). She has been included in numerous group exhibitions including ‘My Puppet, My Secret Self’, The Substation, Newport; ‘Inside Out/Outside In’, Access Gallery, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne; and ‘Turning the Page’, Gallery 101, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Her work is held in the National Gallery of Australia Collection, Canberra, and MADmusée, Lèige. Scroll through exhibition below or view PDF here. [ngg src="galleries" ids="8" display="basic_thumbnail" thumbnail_crop="0"]  This exhibition coincides with the online group show 'Circuit Breaker'. Produced by Sim Luttin, Curator and Gallery Manager at Arts Project Australia.    
IN THE MOMENT OF IN-BETWEEN
Mapping Our Own Future

IN THE MOMENT OF IN-BETWEEN

  At a time when the physical world seems to have hit the pause button, the virtual world is rapidly adjusting to a new normal. A lot of content is being shared and streamed that is unsettling or merely filling space. Then there are the gems that cut through and catch your attention, motivating us to read on. Enter Max Delany, Artistic Director & CEO at ACCA, who shared a thought-provoking article online published on 3 April 2020 in The Sydney Morning Herald. Titled 'Were so many of us wrong? Christos Tsiokas on the new uncertainty', Tsiokas' musings reflect on this point in time: our current moment of in-between. On the one hand, global circumstances allow (amongst other things) time to cultivate patience and reflection, while our longing to have personal contact with people, animals and things is as palpable as ever.  For Arts Project Australia's latest virtual offering 'In the Moment of In-Between', we share a collection of artwork by numerous studio artists that present some scenarios we might otherwise take for granted. These things—particularly at this moment in time—are possibly some of the essential interactions and communal activities we should reflect on, hold tightly, and value the most. Featuring work by Dionne Canzano, Boris Cipusev, Alan Constable, Leo Cussen, Bronwyn Hack, Matthew Gove, Paul Hodges, Bobby Kyriakopoulos, Miles Howard-Wilks, Fiona Longhurst, Lisa Reid, Anthony Romagnano, Adrian Salvatore, Rebecca Scibilia, Amani Tia and Terry Williams. Scroll through exhibition below or view PDF here. [ngg src="galleries" ids="5" display="basic_thumbnail" thumbnail_crop="0"] This exhibition coincides with Steven Ajzenberg's solo show 'What a show-off, mine's bigger than yours'. Produced by Sim Luttin, Curator and Gallery Manager at Arts Project Australia.
WHAT A SHOW-OFF, MINE’S BETTER THAN YOURS!
Mapping Our Own Future

WHAT A SHOW-OFF, MINE’S BETTER THAN YOURS!

  Steven Ajzenberg is a figurative painter whose process is considered and often infused with a wry sense of humour. While his early work explored comic illustrations and paintings accompanied by text, a gradual stylistic evolution has seen Ajzenberg demonstrate a more complete and assured depiction of satire in his work, which is complemented by economical use of colour and composition. Ajzenberg has been a regular studio artist at Arts Project Australia since 2000 and presented his first solo exhibition ‘Steven Ajzenberg Solo’ at Arts Project Australia in 2010. He has been included in several group exhibitions including, Melbourne Art Fair, Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne (each year from 2000-2014), National Gallery of Victoria 150th Anniversary, NGV, Melbourne and Pearls of Arts Project Australia: The Stuart Purves Collection, National touring exhibition (2007-2009). In 2010 his animation “A good day that always ends the wrong way” was awarded Honourable mention in This Film Festival, Calgary Canada. Scroll through exhibition below or view PDF here. [ngg src="galleries" ids="4" display="basic_thumbnail" thumbnail_crop="0"] This exhibition coincides with the online Group show 'In the Moment of In-between'. Produced by Sim Luttin, Curator and Gallery Manager at Arts Project Australia, in collaboration with artist Steven Ajzenberg.
LOVE & HUMOUR IN THE TIME OF EVERYTHING
Mapping Our Own Future

LOVE & HUMOUR IN THE TIME OF EVERYTHING

  Love and Humour in the Time of Everything presents a collection of works that oscillate between amusement, affection, wistfulness and the comfort of the ordinary. Inscribed in the work are the absurd, vulnerable, cheeky truths of human existence. The collection reveals perhaps one of the most innate qualities of an artist – the ability to be sensitive to the nuances of emotional states and to continuously demonstrate connection, support and affection through visual language. [ngg src="galleries" ids="2" display="basic_thumbnail" thumbnail_crop="0"]
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COVID-19 PRECAUTION: ARTS PROJECT AUSTRALIA IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED