Hard Rubbish

Full description

"Hard Rubbish" is a series of paintings that explores notions of identity formed and re-imagined through depictions of domestic objects on streets. Their particular forms are exposed on pavements, contexts suggesting urban change and its impact on the natural environment. This exhibition reflects my ongoing interests to make art works that document the relationship between indigenous landscaping and city construction in Melbourne. In creating this series I have been motivated by diverse painting approaches and applications encompassing both still life and landscape genres. Devotional Spanish still life traditions have influenced this series as have Melbourne's figurative painting traditions. Jan Senbergs and Juan Davila are two artist I have been motivated by for the range of contexts and environments they have created. The Hard Rubbish exhibition opened on 2/2/2011 at Chapman and Bailey Gallery in Collingwood Melbourne. Two hundred people attended the opening night. A catalogue essay titled Hard Rubbish accompanied the exhibition. The Age Newspaper reviewed the exhibition 2011, Art about town "Hard Rubbish" depicts urban life specific to the environment in which I live. Over the last five years of researching this topic I have been unaware of any other practice exploring issues in a similar way that I have. The imagery that comprises hard rubbish objects within urban contexts examines ways that private and public realms coexist. Other topics relevant to my exploration include: consumerism and sustainability as viewed from a local level, visual contemplations pertaining to future lives in urban environments, and narratives that integrate still life depictions with the Australian landscape genre. This exhibition was available for the community dissemination and prompted discussions with regards to the awareness of identity and sustainability.