Shane Forrest has been in town (Melbourne) this last week with an exhibition in the Art Melbourne 2009 event run at the famous Royal Exhibition Building. The exhibition gives visitors a chance to "taste" the content of galleries all around Australia. Shane's exhibition was in a space named "The Studio" and reserved for artists in the "early stages of their career". Family visitors to the exhibition included all the Melbourne-based Bisley/Forrests, Lara and Milly.
Shane had about thirty pieces up and his space attracted a lot of interest along with offers to exhibit overseas - including an offer from China.
He works in a number of mediums but has developed a really interesting take on poster work. It probably doesn't happen in Geraldton but in larger cities, bands and arts events put posters up in places where they won't be torn down quickly by local councils. These posters are put up over each other and the layers can sometimes be twenty deep. Shane peels the complete pile off, uses a form of archival adhesive to preserve the back and then cuts into the surface so you get information ranging from the first to the last poster. What immediately struck me was the temporary nature of popular culture promotion (a poster can be visible for as little as 20 minutes before the next poster obscures it) but Shane says he likes making permanent something which was originally intended to be transitory.
He does a lot of collage work and I also saw a set of drawings of graphic sexual poses in the style of Kama Sutra illustrations with oriental faces but located in inner-city squat housing - in one there was a couple in deep congress in the corner of a room where the only other thing visible was a cheap, two bar electric heater. I'm thinking of buying it for you for Christmas, John.
Shane and Jane caught up with everyone they could in their week here and I've asked him to forward his future exhibitions schedule and details of Jane's web sites which I'll put up when I get them. Shane says Rory is improving noticably and is getting back to some physical work and Bad Zac is still on the scene. I've started a new savings account so I can have something of Shanes on my wall in the near future. It really is very good.
PS. Speaking of Bisleys, happy birthday for today, Indi.
1 comment:
Shane should check his emails attached to his website. There is a sculpture competition for Forrest Place in Perth, which given the name he should be a sure thing for, if his art extends to sculpture. Perth I understand is somewhere near Geraldton.
Brendan
PS Neil and Betty's birthday today. Mum's made 85 and celebratating in Port Douglas in case the phone don't get answered.
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