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july 4 - july 22
by Jarrad Stevenson
Line is an exploration of the European relationship with the natural environment. Stevenson draws his inspiration from Australian history, particularly that which relates to the geography and rural culture of his birthplace in the New England highlands.
Through his unique study of the local flora, Stevenson has become a post colonial Joseph Banks. The resulting body of work tells more about the culture of the creator than the original source. Line redefines the rules of botanical nomenclature through his free form bronze sculptures. The chosen medium of cast bronze mimics the period in question, highlighting firm beliefs and antiquated ethics.
Line is a quiet exhibition of perceptive works. Stevenson has immaculately edited the work, casting aside all excess information and leaving the viewer with a series of three fundamental forms. The result is a subtle reminder of the roots of white Australia.
Jarrad Stevenson graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts in 2001. He currently works at the Bill Perrin Foundry. This is his first solo exhibition at red gallery.
by Judy Oakenfull
Space in the inner city is commonly viewed in terms of its financial value. The aim is to redevelop or renovate with minimum input to maximize output. Make it shiny, tall and appealing. Make it appear spacious yet be compact, make it fresh, light and airy. Take this old structure and make it New. It’s the age of Backyard Blitz and DIY classes at Bunnings. The only question is renovate or detonate?
Judy Oakenfull offers an alternate answer. Unrenovate. Through a series of mixed media works on paper Oakenfull has captured the spaces that are destined for redevelopment. Oakenfull has preserved the crumbling brickwork, delicately chipped and cracked tiles, deteriorating concrete and fading paint work. The result is an exhibition of subtle and muted tones that can’t be found on the Dulux colour chart. Each deteriorating space is a tome of untold history where a space is accepted for what it is, rather than what it could be.
Oakenfull graduated with a Batchelor of Fine Art from the Victorian College of the Arts. She has exhibited in Melbourne and Tokyo. This is her first solo exhibition at red gallery.
by Paul Ruiz
With advances in technology, society and our daily interactions have become increasingly artificial. Through various modes of telecommunications one can participate in the community all day without the need to actually see or touch another being.
Despite the ‘virtual’ environment in which we play and communicate, there still exists a distinction between our private and public personae.
Paul Ruiz is interested in the difference between the public and private. The raw material for his work is physical presence, and the memory of human gesture and glance through which to imagine an ‘inner’ life that lingers behind the flux of the everyday ‘public’ life.
Through the conduits of body and paint, Ruiz affirms the dignity of the private life we all lead; a parallel life which through our bodies are sometimes rendered so vulnerable and public. For the artist, this contrast between the privately observed world and the public display of its output, often mirrors the uncertainty, tension and ambiguity of the painting process itself.
Born in 1972, Ruiz studied Visual Arts at Melbourne University under artists David Thomas, Claire Day, John Neeson and Godwin Bradbeer. This will be Ruiz’s second solo exhibition at red gallery after his near sell out show in 2005.
For more information on Paul Ruiz please click here.
opening night drinks
wednesday july 5
6-8pm
exhibition duration: july 4 - 22