Gabriel Curtin " A Fraction of the Whole" 3rd February - 28th February 2014

Gabriel Curtin's paintings do a special thing, they allow the viewer to insert themselves and their own experiences into the memory-scapes. Gabriel does this with insight and mindfulness far beyond his years and we are excited to see what Gabriel does next. Keep your eye on this guy!

Enjoy! x

Artist Statement

"As soon as a moment has outlived its precise presentness it is lost to the fickle clutches of memory, a device ever-prone to fictionalisation. However, we depend on memory to navigate, react to and interact with life, despite its inadequacy in concreting the absolute truth. 

A Fraction of the Whole presents nine paintings each depicting narratives from the artist’s daily life. The scenes, despite being contrived from individual experience, possess a universality inasmuch as they are not necessarily scenes of a unique nature. The paintings deliberately contain narratives which occur frequently in many people’s daily lives; bathing, riding a bicycle, playing or watching someone play guitar etc. Consequently the viewer is invited to recall their own memories in relation to the scenes presented to them. Rather than procuring mere images the individual naturally attaches details, emotional and otherwise, to these experiences. Through this, one relates to a scene which on a superficial level seems familiar, but in actuality belongs to a wholly other and untouchable set of experiences, namely the artist’s. This highlights the manipulatory quality of memory and its ability to confuse emotional and perceived experience.

The patterns surrounding the scenes are intentionally ambiguous, hinting at landscape and environments but rely on the viewer’s individual memory, fictionalised or not, to interpret them. These patterns seem to transcend the frames in which the paintings are housed, discreetly connecting each image. Such is the nature of memory and the perpetual stream of consciousness; images and words appearing seemingly disconnected, but whose connectedness, while perhaps not immediately perceptible, is palpable."

Biography

Gabriel spent the first half of his life in southern England and the second half in north-east Victoria. He now lives and studies in Melbourne.

See more of Gabriel's work at http://gabrielcurtin.tumblr.com/

Sian Parany "Crust" 16th September - 12th October 2013

We felt that Sian Parany's show Crust was the perfect way to welcome in spring. 

Sian's pastel coloured plaster sculptures are designed to fade over time and with that comes a quiet and delicate movement and an evolving artwork. Sian has devised her own methods of producing her work through experimentation but there is an element of chance that makes viewing her art quite a visceral and immensely enjoyable experience. It was a joy to host this exhibition in our space and we look forward to seeing what Miss Parany does next!

            

Artist Statement

Time rings in wood and sandstone, amber and fossilised bones. Time plays out, is recorded and reinterpreted in numerous ways; the relationship between our environment and time is intrinsic, evident in everything. Crust seeks to capture and recontextualise time, active yet frozen; objects of  liquid time, played out in colour and form, solidified for now.

Biography

Sian Parany is a Melbourne based artist who completed her bachelor of fine art at RMIT . She is a multi disciplinary artist who enjoys the exploration of colour and form and in particular the relationship between painting and sculpture. 

To see more of Sian's work please visit sianparany.com 

Dyana Gray "Chemistry" 1st April - 28th April

Chemistry was at play indeed on the night of the 1st. With a perfectly orchestrated sunset as a backdrop, Dyana's show opened to a large turnout of adoring fans. Dyana's work is filled with dry humour, a genuine love of the human figure and an instinct with colour that betrays the simplicity of her ink and watercolour images. We have greatly enjoyed having Dyana at the rooftop, the space is flourishing.

Chemistry

These watercolour and ink paintings are simply constructed, yet have a complex intimacy. I like to paint instinctively with no preliminary sketches. The immediacy of painting is what makes it unique as an art form. This series of drawings focuses on minimal process; raw mark making on unprimed paper. I source imagery online, or in magazines, and I often paint from life. I like painting images that excite me or make me laugh. I enjoy painting the male and female figure and I love painting about eroticism, desire and sexuality. The title of this series, Chemistry, reflects that.

Chemistry is a series of impulsive experiments with dynamic conclusions.

Biography

Dyana Gray is a New Zealand artist living in Melbourne, Australia. Primarily a painter, she also works in, cartooning/illustrating, music, and animation. Dyana obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts  in 2005 from Otago Polytechnic, New Zealand. Since graduating Dyana has exhibited work in Melbourne and New Zealand, in solo shows and group exhibitions.

See more of Dyana Gray's work at http://dyanagray.wordpress.com