Dia de Los Muertos: Red Girl in Mexico - Sarah Gibson at UPspace

Opening 30th October - exhibition continues 31st October—1st November 2015

In 2013 Sarah undertook an artist residency in Oaxaca, Mexico to immerse herself in Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations when the living welcome the dead with feasts, vigils and parades, with private and collective acts of remembering.

What is it like when death is very alive in the cultural imagination? The sheer size and quirky vibrancy of the giant papier-mâché skeletons and puppets created by Mexican artists inspired this series of drawings.

 Working with oil pastel Sarah explores the colours and liveliness of a Mexican approach to death. She uses her character ‘Red Girl’ to play with her own anxieties about death, in particular her fear of unlived life.  “ I am interested in the permeability between the living and the dead and between life and death. I am curious about how we bring awareness of death into life.”

Detail, Spider Mother, 2015

Self Portrait, Oaxaca, 2014

Dia de Los Muertos: Red Girl in Mexico is at UPspace, UPstudios Gallery until 1st November. Hut 14, Addison Rd, Marrickville. See map below

There’s room in my house

GAIL KENNING and SUE PEDLEY

return to Slot with a work that references current issues around homelessness and the plight of refugees.

The work was inspired by a hand drawn banner made by 5 year old Xavier Egan for the Light the Dark Vigil at Sydney’s Hyde Park on Monday 7^th September 2015[1]. The vigil drew attention to the displaced people around the world through messages of welcome and solidarity.

The rallies, which took place in a number of cities in Australia called on political leaders to take an active role to ease the suffering of the growing numbers of refugees worldwide.

The work by Kenning and Pedley at slot consists of a set of curtains, made from the conservatively styled material used to the line suits of corporate clothing, most typically suits. The curtains are casually draped reminiscent of the carefully chosen furnishings that differentiate a house from a home and provides a sense of place that are currently not available to many refugees. The matter of who is allowed to become a resident and can make a home is complex. It involves engaging with issues of nation states and territories, economics, politics and warring factions. The simplicity of the message ‘There’s room in my house’ written in blue in a child’s handwriting stands in stark contrast to the cacophony of voices commentating on the events as they unfold. It risks being an oversimplification. But, it reminds us of the role that creativity, art and imagining can play in cutting through and demonstrating basic shared humanity.

http://slotwindow.blogspot.com.au
gailkenning.com
suepedley.com.au

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[1] A photo of Xavier Evans and his hand written message appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald. Photo: Luke Vodell

UP Artists at Sydney Contemporary Art Fair

Ultimo Project Artists are currently on stand P15 in Bay 19 at Sydney Contemporary Art Fair. Call by today from 10 am - to 6pm and tomorrow until 5pm

UP Artists in Paper Contemporary at Sydney Contemporary 2015

Sydney Contemporary 2015

Ultimo Project on Artsy

A selection of artists from the Ultimo Project will be exhibiting as part of Paper Contemporary at Sydney Contemporary 2015. The work will be available for viewing and purchase at booth P15

Paper Contemporary at Contemporary Art Fair, Carriageworks from 10-13 September 2015

 

Anie Nheu Untitled 2014 

Anie Nheu Untitled 2014

Barbara Licha Untitled 2012

Barbara Licha Afternoon 2010

Barbara Licha Horizon 2015

Jan Fieldsend Night Sky Series No. 1 2015

Jan Fieldsend Night Sky Series No. 2 2015

Sue Pedley Untitled 2010

Sue Pedley Untitled 2012

Sue Pedley Untitled 2010

Therese Kenyon To save Venice 2013

 

Therese Kenyon To save the lowlands 2013

Wayne Hutchins Observation # 25, 2015

Wayne Hutchins Observation # 23, 2015

These are a selection of works available for sale at the Contemporary Art Fair under the Paper Contemporary series of booths. The Ultimo Project UPSPACE will be at P15 so please come and visit. The Works on Paper artists are: Barbara Licha, Gail Kenning, Wayne Hutchins, Therese Kenyon, Jan Fieldsend, Sue Pedley, Anie Nheu.