VAULT EXTRA 28th OCTOBER 2021
RONNIE VAN HOUT AT STATION
Ronnie van Hout's solo exhibition The Floating Planes of Utrecht at STATION Melbourne continues van Hout’s exploration into self-referential portraiture and the connections between people, place and imagination. The exhibition traverses personal and geographic narratives that span histories and abstracted futures – both real and imagined – to transport audiences into alternate realities. The Floating Planes of Utrecht is now open virtually until October 30, 2021. Click here enter the viewing room. STATION will also open its doors to the public on Saturday 30 October, for the final day of the exhibition with a closing celebration taking place between 2 – 4PM.
In 2018, VAULT sat down with the van Hout to discuss the moments and themes informing his sharp and witty works. You can read more about the artist’s expanded practice in Will Cox’s article Ronnie van Hout: The Comedian.
Image credit:Installation view, Ronnie van Hout, The Floating Planes of Utrecht, 2021. Photo: Christo Crocker
LABOURS OF COLOUR
Mosman Art Gallery is currently showing Labours for colour, a new video work by Australian-Balinese artist Leyla Stevens. Currently installed in The Cube, the Gallery’s dedicated space for video and experimental art, this new video work has been commissioned to coincide with the exhibition Upacara: Ceremonial art from Southeast Asia showing at Mosman Art Gallery. Upacara features objects from the collection of Dr John Yu AC and the late Dr George Soutter AM. Stevens has created Labours for colour in response to this significant collection of textiles and artefacts. Both presentations continue until December 12, 2021
Image credit:Leyla Stevens, Labours for colour (still), 2021, 2-channel video with sound, 16 minutes. Courtesy of the artist
MATISSE ALIVE AT THE AGNSW
Following the end of lockdowns in Sydney, The Art Gallery of New South Wales has re-opened, welcoming back visitors with the vibrant and energetic exhibition, Matisse Alive. Complimentary to Matisse: Life & Spirit, Masterpieces from the Centre Pompidou, Paris, a major show set to run from November 20, 2021 until March 13, 2022, Matisse Alive presents a range of incredible works from the AGNSW collection in addition to a unique consideration of Matisse’s influences. At the heart of Matisse Alive are four new artist projects that present contemporary perspectives on Henri Matisse, with particular focuses on his imagining of the Pacific. Culminating as dynamic textile environments, heroically scaled paintings and an immersive video work, projects are by leading contemporary artists, Nina Chanel Abney (US), Sally Smart (Australia), Angela Tiatia (Sāmoa/Australia), and Robin White (NZ). Matisse: Alive continues until 3 April, 2022.
Image credit:Nina Chanel Abney, BLUE, 2021, collage on panel, 153 x 154.6 cm. Lent by the artist. Copyright of the artist. Courtesy of Pace Prints, New York City
INAUGURAL EXHIBITIONS OF NGUNUNGGULA
Ngununggula, the newly established Southern Highland Regional Gallery located in Retford Park, opened its doors earlier this month. A major solo exhibition by Tamara Dean marks the inaugural feature exhibition, presenting an incredible series of recent photographs that will be on show until December 17, 2021. Ngununggula means ‘belonging’ in the Gundungurra language – ‘belonging’ as a concept distinctly echoed in Dean’s works. High Jinks in the Hydrangeas explores the artist’s desire to be in and of nature during the first global lockdown in 2020, and how interior dialogues around isolation were inextricably linked with the escape into the exterior world. The inaugural artist of the Pavilion Commission is Quandamooka woman and artist Megan Cope. Continuing until September 30, 2022, this commission involves Cope working in collaboration with the local Aboriginal community to create an installation celebrating language and Dreamtime stories.
Image credit:Tamara Dean, High Jinks in the Hydrangeas, 2020, pigment print on cotton rag, 120 x 160 cm / 150 x 200 cm. Courtesy of the artist and Michael Reid Sydney + Berlin
SALMAN TOOR RESPONDS TO THE FRICK COLLECTION
VAULT Issue 34 (May – July) cover artist, Salman Toor is part of an exciting curated exhibition Living Histories: Queer Views and Old Masters. The Frick Collection’s temporary home of Frick Madison has prompted new and stimulating ways of looking at the museum’s collection of Old Master paintings. As such, the curated show is not only installed at The Frick Collection’s current location but is also premised as being directly in conversation with the collection.
Living Histories: Queer Views and Old Masters is part of a broad program of publications, digital productions, and collaborations inspired by novel perspectives. Toor’s contribution to Living Histories: Queer Views and Old Masters is part of the year-long project that engages the work of four New York-based artists: Doron Langberg, Salman Toor, Jenna Gribbon, and Toyin Ojih Odutola. The project invites each artist to present a single new work in conversation with iconic paintings in the Frick’s collection, and facilitates particular reflection upon issues of gender and queer identity, issues typically excluded from narratives of early modern European art.
Image credit: Installation view of Salman Toor viewing Johannes Vermeer’s, Mistress and Maid, ca. 1666–67, displayed alongside his painting Museum Boys, 2021, on view in Frick Madison’s Living Histories: Queer Views and Old Masters. Photo: Joseph Coscia Jr
DOUG AITKEN AT THE MCA
The MCA, Sydney is currently exhibiting a mesmerising display of multidisciplinary works by American artist Doug Aitken. Curated by Rachel Kent, Doug Aitken: New Era presents an impressive display of the artist’s installations, photographs and vast multi-screen environments. Aitken, who discusses his work in the upcoming VAULT Issue 36 (Nov – Jan), launching November 4, 2021, is known for his sensorial works – the artist manipulating sounds, light and reflection to create worlds where time, space and memory are fluid concepts. Accordingly, the exhibition builds to a totalised environment for experiencing distinct works. Doug Aitken: New Era continues until February 6, 2022.
Image credit:Installation view, Doug Aitken, NEW ERA, 2018 at 303 Gallery, New York, 2018. Courtesy the artist, 303 Gallery, New York, Galerie Eva Presenhuber, Zurich, Victoria Miro, London, and Regen Projects, Los Angeles. Copyright of the artist. Photo: John Berens
ENJOY EXCLUSIVE PRE-SALE ACCESS TO CRAFT’S MAKER SHOWCASE
Craft’s Maker Showcase annually presents a curated collection of unique handmade products all available for purchase. Each year the selection of objects platformed is highly sought after and VAULT is excited to offer you exclusive pre-sale access to the showcase!
Founded in 1970, Craft is a not-for-profit arts organisation dedicated to platforming and celebrating excellence in craft – both sculptural and functional – through exhibitions and meaningful buying experiences. The annual Maker Showcase, specifically brings together diverse emerging and established makers who work with a range of styles, materials and techniques – since its inception, hosting over 1000 innovative makers from across Australia. This year’s specially curated Maker Showcase champions five new Victoria women makers, namely, Danielle Thiris, Jessie French, Georgina Proud, Ella Reweti and Caro Pattle. You can find insightful interviews with each of the creatives here. The focus of the collection a celebration of the continued creativity and resilience of Victoria’s creative community.
To gain exclusive online access the collection click here. General online access to the collection will be available from November 10, 2021.
Image credit:Portrait of Jessie French, Ella Reweti, Georgina Proud, Danielle Thiris and Caro Pattle. Photo: Henry Tremble
