Contemporary – Art and Artists Blog

by zhen - May 29, 2016

WE ARE HERE: An exploration of contemporary portraiture as a response to hatred and hope

Today is the last day of this really wonderful exhibition which if you have time I encourage you to go see. I found this show very poignant and moving. Running from 6th to the 29th May 2016 at the Glen Eira City Council Gallery which is on the corner of Glen Eira and Hawthorn Roads in Caulfield (Monday to Friday 10am–5pm, Weekends 1pm–5pm).

"Presented by The Contemporary Collective, this exhibition features photography; painting; sculpture; jewellery; video; mixed media; and installations by renowned artists Benjamin Armstrong, Irene Barberis, Godwin Bradbeer, Bindi Cole-Chocka, Carmella Grynberg, Linde Ivimey, Shoshanna Jordan, Jane Korman, Lillianne Milgrom, Victor Majzner, Hedy Ritterman, Avital Sheffer, Lousje Skala, Linda Wachtel and Guan Wei.

Curated by Dr Helen Light AM, this exhibition includes works by these artists who have responded to personal and collective histories and viewpoints regarding the trauma of war, and The Holocaust in particular. The artists' interpretation of contemporary portraiture further encourages a critical engagement with ideas around memorialization and representation. This exhibition honours post-war refugees who journeyed across the globe in order to establish new lives and families. Their stories are pertinent to current debates concerning refugees and asylum seekers." -Glen Eira City Council Gallery

Enjoy the following photos from the show.

Linda Wachtel,We are here, 2015, Pigment print on archival cotton rag, 100 x 1400cm

'WE ARE HERE: An exploration of contemporary portraiture as a response to hatred and hope' gallery view. (Linda Wachtel & Godwin Bradbeer)

'WE ARE HERE: An exploration of contemporary portraiture as a response to hatred and hope' gallery view. (Godwin Bradbeer, Lillianna Milgrom, Linde Ivimey & Lousje Skala)

'WE ARE HERE: An exploration of contemporary portraiture as a response to hatred and hope' gallery view. (Shoshanna Jordan, Irene Barberis & Carmella Grynberg)

Shoshanna Jordan, Mir Zehnen Do, 2016, pigment print on acid free cotton paper 100 x100cm each

Guan Wei, up in the clouds, No.5, 2012, bronze sculpture, 52 x 32 x 24cm

Linde Ivimey, Heirloom, 2012, antique and vintage crystal, glass, silver, brass, water, electricity, 28 x 33 x 33cm

Jane Korman, Whistle While You Work, 2014, Video, 05:05min (Still Video)

'WE ARE HERE: An exploration of contemporary portraiture as a response to hatred and hope' gallery view. (Hedy Ritterman, Avital Sheffer & Linde Ivimey)

'WE ARE HERE: An exploration of contemporary portraiture as a response to hatred and hope' gallery view. (Lousje Skala, Shoshanna Jordan & Hedy Ritterman)

by Emilia Martinez - November 12, 2015December 18, 2021

Waldemar Kolbusz – ‘Rudiment’

Last week I visited the Flinders Lane Gallery (137 Flinders Lane, Melbourne 3000). The exhibition 'Rudiment' (13 Oct – 7 Nov 2015) features large gestural paintings of contemporary artist Waldemar Kolbusz. I really liked the spontaneous patches of paint and colour. 'This expressionistic project is abstract yet altogether unambiguous.' – Kate Britton.

Waldemar Kolbusz, Even Higher 2015, oil on linen, 91cm x 91cm

Waldemar Kolbusz, Frisson 2015, oil on linen, 122cm x 91cm

Waldemar Kolbusz, Looking 2015, oil on linen, 91cm x 91cm

Waldemar Kolbusz, West 2015, oil on linen, 140cm x 140cm

Waldemar Kolbusz, Popcorn 2015, oil on linen, 91cm x 76cm

Waldemar Kolbusz, Slippers 2015, oil on linen, 183cm x 122cm

by Emilia Martinez - October 29, 2015

Craft Pop Up Shop 2015

I recently visited the Craft pop up shop in the Melbourne Town Hall (90-120 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000), 'featuring the works of Australia's leading craftspeople and emerging talent'. Craft Victoria is the hub for contemporary craft and design. I really liked the creativity and quirkiness the craftspeople put into their work and it is always wonderful to suport other local creatives.

The pop up shop includes over 70 local makers; ceramics, jewellery, textiles, timber, paper, glass, mixed media, installations and demonstrations. Here are just some of the makers featured in the space; Melbourne ceramicists Andrei Davidoff, Sophie Moran, Alterfact and Vanessa Lucas, Melbourne jeweller Abby Seymour, leather worker Emma Greenwood, textile illustrators Sandra Eterovic and Georgina Cue, installations by makers Kim Jaeger (Pot Heads) and John Brooks, furniture designers Dale Hardiman, Coco Flip, Redfox and Wilcox and Tide Design.

Dates: 21 October – 21 November, 2015.
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 11am-6pm, open until 7pm on Fridays.

Vanessa Lucas ceramics, 2015

Alterfact, One of a Kind 3D printed vase, 2015, Southern Ice Porcelain

Georgina Cue, Manina, 2014, 52cm x 48cm, Acyrylic yarn on fly-screen, framed

Sofie Moran, Quarry Collection Cups, high fired stoneware with flecked, matte glaze

John Brooks, Blobjects, 2015, Fuax fur, jersey, synthetic metallics, wood and paper plup

Kim Jaeger (Pot Heads) , Basnarica II, 2015, Stoneware clay and glaze, ceramic paint

by Emilia Martinez - October 15, 2015

Rigg Design Prize 2015

We are happy to announce another new writer to Art and Artists Blog, Emilia Martinez. Enjoy.

Today I went to the NGV at Federaion Square (Ground, Federation Sqaure, Flinders St & Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia). The exhibition I enjoyed the most was the Rigg Design Prize 2015 (18 Sep 15 – Feb 16) on level 3, showcasing work from seven furniture designers, Adam Goodrum (NSW), Brodie Neill (TAS), Daniel Emma (SA), Kate Rohde (VIC), Khai Liew (SA), Korban/Flaubert (NSW) and Koskela (NSW) in collaboration with the weavers of Elcho Island Arts (NT).

"Recognising excellence in contemporary Australian design, the Rigg Design Prize is the highest accolade for object and furniture design in Australia." – NGV