Assemblage at John Curtin Gallery

janis-nadela-no-3-touch-of-class

Assemblage
20 June-21 August 2016

“Assemblage” showcases a selection of paintings, drawings, collage, mixed media and sculptural works from the Curtin University art collection which are linked by a use of found or appropriated materials and an experimental and playful approach to art-making. Some of the works in the exhibition are so fragile, complex or ephemeral they haven’t been exhibited since they were acquired and a number of pieces have recently been restored.

Artists represented in the exhibition include Robert Klippel, Colin Lanceley, Janet Laurence, Janis Nedela, Bruce Slatter, Helen Smith, Howard Taylor and Aida Tomescu.

Curator Lia McKnight said the art form of assemblage was initiated by major artists in the early 20th century and has its roots in Cubist collage and connections to art movements including Dada, Surrealism, Futurism, Pop-art, Fluxus and Arte Povera.

pneumatics-series-by-peter-phillips

“In its day, ‘assemblage’ was considered ground-breaking and progressive. For contemporary art audiences, assemblage art continues to be a dynamic and inspiring art form,” said Ms McKnight.

“William C Seitz, curator of the seminal 1961 exhibition, ‘The Art of Assemblage’ (Museum of Modern Art, New York) described assemblage as being made up of both natural and salvaged or recycled media that were not traditionally used as art materials. For Seitz, the interplay between elements (both created and borrowed) functions much like a poet’s use of metaphor in the creation of new meaning.” i

John Curtin Gallery director Chris Malcolm said he was delighted to be presenting a selection of significant works from the Curtin University Art Collection.

“Comprising over 40 objects, this exhibition enables us to show some extraordinary examples of ‘assemblage’ works by respected artists from our own collection. It is exciting for us to be able to share these rarely seen works with art audiences through this wonderful exhibition” said Mr Malcolm.

(text adapted from the gallery’s press materials)


INFORMATION

John Curtin Gallery
Building 200
Curtin University
Kent Street
Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia
+61 8 9266 4155

Hours:
Monday-Friday, 11AM-5PM
Sunday, 1-5PM

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Images:
(top) No. 3 Touch of Class
from the series “Rose Portraits”, 1995-2004
by Janis Nedela
20″x15.7″
collages and mixed media on black-and-white photographs
Photographer Martin Farquharson.
Gift of David Forrest through the Cultural Gifts Program 2005.

(below) from the “Pneumatics series”
by Peter Phillips
24″x37″
screenprint and collage on paper
1968
Curtin University Art Collection, Gift of C R Constable 1975.

(1) William C Seitz, The Art of Assemblage, New York: The Museum of Modern Art, 1961; p. 13