Art Essays
Newsletter 266
Saturday, December 22nd, 2018 Art Essays, Newsletter,Judith Neilson’s $100 million Christmas present to Australian journalism could hardly come along at a more crucial time. The recent “merger” between Fairfax and Channel Nine has set everyone on edge as to what will happen to those vestiges of quality jourmalism that remain in the Australian press. We’ve declined a long way over the […]
Newsletter 265
Saturday, December 15th, 2018 Art Essays, Newsletter,This week the spooky apparition named Cloud Archwas sighted once again in the Sydney press. In case you’ve forgotten, this is a proposed public sculpture by Japanese architect, Junya Ishigawa, that the Sydney City Council envisages straddling George Street in front of the Town Hall. The first version of this piece, which resembled a wiggly […]
Newsletter 264
Saturday, December 8th, 2018 Art Essays, Newsletter,It was a sign of just how far the Morrison government has strayed from reality that when 15,000 children took a day off school last week to protest inaction on climate change, MPs lined up to make arrogant and condescending remarks. According to Resources Minister, Matt Canavan, who has led the charge to lend a […]
Newsletter 263
Saturday, December 1st, 2018 Art Essays, Newsletter,There’s an essay to be written on that new political buzzword: “base”. One is forever hearing how Donald Trump can depend on his “base” for blind, fanatical support, no matter what he does – even when his policies are directly contrary to the supporters’ own best interests. One wonders what motivates working-class people to cheer […]
Newsletter 262
Saturday, November 24th, 2018 Art Essays, Newsletter,After eight years of work it seems almost tragic that Jaiwei Shen’s monumental painting, Brothers and Sisters: China in July 1936 – June 1937is being shown for only two weeks at the China Cultural Centre in Sydney (until 30 November). The work has been exhibited in installments but this is the first time one can […]
Polly Borland – Sullivan + Strumpf, Sydney
Saturday, November 24th, 2018 Art Essays, Good Weekend Art Column,Artist: Polly Borland Lives: Los Angeles, USA Age:59 Represented by:Sullivan + Strumpf, (Murray White Room in Melbourne) Her thing. Photographs of soft, coccoon-like shapes that will make your skin crawl. Our take.Polly Borland was born in Melbourne, but has spent most of her working life in London where she established an international reputation for her dark, […]
Newsletter 261
Saturday, November 17th, 2018 Art Essays, Newsletter,This week’s announcement that Lisa Havilah will be the new CEO of the Powerhouse Museum brings another twist to this painful saga. We already know the decision to move the Powerhouse from its site in Ultimo to Parramatta – a dstance of 25 kms at a cost of not less than $1.5 billion – is […]
Christopher Pease – Gallery Smith, Melbourne
Saturday, November 17th, 2018 Art Essays, Good Weekend Art Column,Artist: Christopher Pease Lives: Dunsborough, Western Australia Age:49 Represented by: Gallerysmith, North Melbourne, (no Sydney representation) His thing. Oil paintings making critical re-appropriations of early colonial landscapes. Our take.Christopher Pease is an artist of Mingang/Nyoongar descent whose work has been exhibited and collected by most of Australia’s leading art museums. Although he identifies as indigenous, Pease […]
Newsletter 260
Saturday, November 10th, 2018 Art Essays, Newsletter,First a bit of housekeeping. I’ve had it pointed out that many people are getting notices saying “this site may be hacked”, when accessing the home page. The site is not hacked (at present!) so don’t be put off by these warnings. There are also new hiccups that are interfering with access, so if you can’t […]
Newsletter 259
Saturday, November 3rd, 2018 Art Essays, Newsletter,This weekend I’m writing about Sculpture by the Sea, which is coming to a close at Bondi. This annual event has become a de facto arts festival in Sydney, attracting the kind of audiences that most art museums can only fantasise about. It’s never a perfect show – some years a little stronger, others a […]