A look over the shoulder
| 
Ah Xian
Bust 25 (detail) 1999
|
Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art has, since
its establishment, been a hotbed of contemporary culture, more
often than not at the cutting edge. But as the institution has
matured, it’s taken the time to look back and take stock.
One example of that process is its new exhibition,
Cross Currents: Focus on contemporary Australian art, currently
showing through to the end of November 2007. Guest-curated by
John Stringer, Cross Currents is the third in a biennial exhibition
series at the MCA focussing on mid-career Australian artists.
Cross Currents builds on the earlier MCA exhibitions
Meridian (2002-03) and Interesting Times (2005), bringing together
a range of artistic practices. The museum will seek to put the
work into context via a series of public and educational programs,
as well as a major MCA publication with commissioned essays on
the participating artists.
The exhibition presents selected works by 16 leading
artists from around the country encompassing painting, printmaking,
photography, sculpture and installation.
From the delicate surfaces of Karl Wiebke, Rosslynd
Piggott and Michele Theunissen to the bold, vibrant canvases of
Gareth Sansom; from Ah Xian’s ornate ceramic busts to David
Stephenson’s ethereal time-lapse photography, Cross Currents
seeks to present a diverse array of artistic methods and practices
for audiences to explore.
The featured artists are: Vivienne Binns; Janangoo
Butcher Cherel; Elisabeth Cummings; Debra Dawes; Stuart Elliott;
Dale Hickey; Hilarie Mais; Helen Maudsley; Rosslynd Piggott; Tobias
Richardson; Gareth Sansom; David Stephenson; Michele Theunissen;
Karl Wiebke; Djirrirra Wunungmurra; Ah Xian.
| 
Gareth Samson
The Keep (detail) 2004 |
Curator John Stringer has extensive experience with
Australian art over the past five decades – from positions
at the National Gallery of Victoria, where he organised seminal
1968 exhibition The Field, and the Art Gallery of Western Australia,
as well as his current role as Curator of the Kerry Stokes Collection.
He provides a unique perspective on developments in Australian
art and lends great depth to the selection and presentation of
works in the exhibition.
Among the accompanying events are a free presentation
by astronomer Andrew Jacob on Saturday 17 November to discuss
how the familiar patterns and cycles of the stars have been sources
of inspiration for navigation and time-keeping from the earliest
of times to the present day. The event will refer to the art of
David Stephenson features in the exhibition.
On Friday 23 November, celebrated artist Vivienne
Binns will present a two day workshop for art-interested adults
of all abilities. Commencing with a special introduction to the
works in the exhibition, the workshop explores painterly techniques,
and participants produce artworks on paper and canvas. (Note:
a cost is associated with these workshops – check the MCA
Web site for details)
Cross Currents runs at the MCA from 18 September
until 26 November 2007.
David Edwards
