A few weeks ago
I wrote how great it can be to turn up at a gallery with no idea what the show would be like and be relieved it's (more or less) an exhibition of well executed figurative painting. Now that does not mean painting is not challenging and it certainly does not mean I want to live in an art comfort zone of big overstuffed chairs and couches - now there's an idea.. So it was refreshing last week to attend three shows at three separate gallery sites all of which had a some level of performance as part of the opening night.
The week kicked off with Madeline Beckett's
Press Her at KUDOS Gallery featuring sound artists Joji Malani and Joel van Gastel, with performances by Boni Cairncross, James Batchelor, Ryl Harris, Lucy Westbrook, Veronica Barac and Emma Batchelor. Produced by Joel van Gastel and Paul Beckett. The performances ran continuously for well over an hour, the first thing to hit me was the strong smell of fresh coffee - in a fish tank being walked back and forth across the entry area of the gallery; is it too obvious to say 'wake up -
experience the art'..!! The coordinated performances making up the whole had an impeccable tempo, the mood building almost unperceivably with Joji Malani on guitar; in a
NECKS like performance right there.
What's in Dogue? Next was a perfect example of
I have no idea what I'm going to see. David Capra & Teena the Dachshund at the launch of, EAU DE WET DOGGE at Gallery 9 in Darlinghurst. Was the perfume spray, the bubble gun and Teena a performance? Of course it was! And an art installation, lots of fun; not too sure about the scent!
Meanwhile at Art House in Rushcutters Bay the art was progressive rock-ing out with live performance by Timothy McPhee & Jason Tanpake from Firekites for Aaron Kinnane's
Winter Passing, Milk Moon Rising.
 |
| Yes, my camera is pointing in that general direction! |
 |
| At- Matthew Quick's BASED ON A TRUE STORY - Nanda/Hobbs |
The only 'performance' Nanda/Hobbs was my friend taking a seat on the the window sill and starting to flick through Grindr! I have been reading that Tinder is destroying the pub scene; you have to wonder if it's at all possible for the art scene to be susceptible too? You know what, I think not; Art is a completely different world, demanding of your attention, and I like that! Get out there and take a look too.
https://www.kudosgallery/
http://www.gallery9.com.au/
http://www.arthousegallery.com.au/
http://nandahobbs.com/
Telling Stories in Pictures all over Sydney..
Kent Johnson, Sydney, Australia.
0433 796 863
