Fan Works 2015–2017
“Fan art” isn’t real art, right? Adelaide artist Roy Ananda investigates the phenomenon and culture of fandom through a filter of contemporary art practice, at a point where the two might seamlessly converge. Ananda’s fascination with sci-fi, horror and fantasy (think Star Wars and Dungeons and Dragons) has guided his post-graduate research, and the resulting artefacts act as bridging points between fictitious worlds and the real one. Fan Works 2015–2017 is a “celebration of childlike enthusiasm surviving well into adulthood” and, importantly, just a whole lot of fun.
Fan Works is at Fontanelle until May 13.
Babliens
Girls to the front at Peanut Gallery. Curated by the gallery’s fierce and fearless co-director Fruzsi Kenez, Babliens presents a mixed group of female illustrators challenging the patriarchy and celebrating strength in their sex. Spanning Adelaide, Melbourne, France and the USA, the exhibition unites artists Tayla Broekman, Frances Cannon, Ban-She, Anna Wanda Gogusey, Jordyn McGeachin and Nes Vuckovic.
Babliens is at Peanut Gallery Adelaide until May 14.
Subject Position / Fears & Inertia
The centrepiece for Sydney artist Dominic Byrnes’ Subject Position is a video work he calls Alien vs Predator. Byrne walks the tightrope of shifting boundaries between tasteful and tasteless online content, examining audiences’ social and antisocial behaviours, and how to deal with trolls. His work, on display at Sister Gallery, moves between screen-based and performance works, minimalist sculpture and painting.
In the next room, the voice of artist Narges Anvar’s mother speaking in Farsi provides the soundtrack to Fear & Inertia; a collection of paintings that “represent hidden feelings that manifest in a person’s appearance and body language”. Anvar’s mother reads a story about a drawn red line that breaks its boundaries to experience freedom, accompanying her daughter’s line work and brushstrokes.
Subject Position / Fears & Inertia is at Sister Gallery until May 13.
Sawaru
Inspired by ideas of emptiness, intimacy and sleep, Sawaru is an interactive experience from Amber Cronin. Through sculpture and sound design (by composer and producer Jian Liew) Cronin constructs a contemplative space where visitors huddle together, considering both the sensory and the metaphysical, and connecting with nature through the artificial. From the Japanese word meaning “to touch or feel (with hands)”, Sawaru is a meditative installation designed to convey the artist’s process, and allow space for an audience’s personal experiences.
Sawaru is at Nexus Gallery until May 26.
The Sunshine Suite
United by a challenge (set by Melbourne artist Jon Campbell) to expand into the unknown, five artists from diverse art practices are all working in the medium of lithography for the first time. The collection of new works by Nadine Christensen, Tony Garifalakis, Richard Lewer, Rob McHaffie, Fiona McMonagle and Campbell was produced collaboratively under the mentorship of “master” printmaker Adrian Kellett.
The Sunshine Suite is at Hugo Michell Gallery until May 20.
