Past Exhibition Repurpose

Repurpose takes its impetus from the early collages of Braque and Picasso (and later, from Robert Motherwell) which demonstrate the potential of a “foreign” object to act as an artistic catalyst.

The unprecedented use of pre-existing items in their collages entailed swatches of printed matter or textiles being incorporated (re-purposed) into a new context and given a new identity.

It is apparent to us in retrospect that this use of ready-made items served to challenge the precedence and priority of the “model” in earlier representational art. The works of these artists has laid a foundation for subsequent practice, where a work’s composition can no longer be dissociated from its subject matter.

Repurpose presents a range of abstract objects and images by three generations of artists: Matt Arbuckle, Peter Atkins, Chris Carmody, Nicole Ellis, Erwin Fabian, Robert Motherwell, Elizabeth Newman and Trish Roan. All of their works feature a foreign object, a third party, a ready-made pretext or a pre-existing form that generates a fresh outcome.

Through incorporation or obliteration, addition or subtraction, the re-purposed template alters its identity and its function.

Once the enemy, it has become the ally of invention.

This exhibition was curated by Tony Oates.

ARTIST’S INTERVIEWS AND BIOGRAPHIES

MATT ARBUCKLE

PETER ATKINS

CHRIS CARMODY

NICOLE ELLIS

ERWIN FABIAN

ROBERT MOTHERWELL

ELIZABETH NEWMAN

TRISH ROAN