It started with a conversation and ended with one hundred empty pots of paint.
Artbank’s Sydney gallery space, which opened in the new Waterloo headquarters just over a year ago, has been transformed through a unique curatorial project.
‘Counter Compositions’ is a collaborative project between Artbank and emerging artists Kate Vassallo and James Lieutenant.
‘Counter Compositions’ forms part of Artbank’s expanded approach to supporting and promoting the work of Australian contemporary artists. Through acquisitions, art leasing, exhibitions, publishing, and a range of temporary projects, Artbank is committed to democratising access to the arts for all Australians.
Artbank Director, Tony Stephens explains “‘Counter Compositions’ is effectively a ‘discussion in art’. It is an organic evolution stemming from a ‘call and response’ between artist and institution taking some of the finest examples of Australian contemporary art from the past 35 years – and contextualising them within the dynamic colour compositions of Vassallo and Lieutenant’s thrilling wall-based work.”
Vassallo and Lieutenant’s current body of work pays homage to past art movements, namely Minimalism, Op Art, Pop and Abstraction. The pair create striking site specific wall paintings that have transformed gallery spaces including the Canberra Museum and Gallery into dynamic, immersive environments.
“Rather than presenting a ‘poetic’ perspective, the ‘illusion’ of my work is always transparent. I make no effort to hide the sticky tape holding a form together, or the grey guidelines of a drawing. I’m much more interested in exposing the trivial, the meaningless, the illogical and the humorous”, says Vassallo.
All artworks in ‘Counter Compositions’ are available to rent throughout the course of the exhibition continually changing the fabric of the installation (hence the name), meaning each visit will be different.
Artbank
Until April 2016
Sydney
Kate Vassallo and James Lieutenant, Counter Compositions, installation view of site specific wall painting at Artbank, Sydney
