For the Time Being (2016-2017)

Full description

Background:
Referencing the optical painterly lineage of Jesus Raphael Sotto and Yaacov Agam, ‘For the Time Being’ addresses ideas of the circulation of moving bodies in time and spaces. In contrast to the lineage of optical art which places the phenomena of vibratory movement in the perceiver’s gaze, the work seeks to add the experience of movement to the viewer’s encounter. In so doing the work generates a durational experience that confounds clear demarcations between both the perceiving subject, the artwork and the space of presentation.

Contribution:
‘For the Time Being’ was a sculptural work that utilised an array of optically dynamic rotating geometric mirrored reflective forms. The work was designed to produce shadow drawings in the gallery space and in particular on the floor under which they hung. The shadow forms were highly dynamic and produced social encounters for the audiences extend the optical experience into a spatial and temporal encounter. The work is derived from Eastman’s drawing practice that employs repetition and geometry to suggest natural processes of iteration and generation as well as from his interest in scientific instruments of measurement and observation.

Significance:
The work was commissioned by senior curator Monica Zetlin from Museums Victoria to be included in Light Time exhibited at Science Works. This exhibition was visited by several thousand patrons over three months. The work was purchased by Museums Victoria for their permanent collection. The work was previously curated for the exhibition Dancing Umbrellas (2016) by Senior curator Sue Cramer at Heide Museum of Modern. Many nationally significant artists were included in this exhibition. The work was reviewed positively in the Age newspaper by critic Robert Nelson.