A miniature monkey, an enormous inflatable sneaker, projected films of simulated seascapes and a meticulously hand carved wooden table all currently occupy BRAG’s (Bathurst Regional Art Gallery) gallery space as part of our new exhibition Beyond Belief: the sublime in contemporary art.
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Beyond Belief: the sublime in contemporary art includes 14 impressive works by 10 artists; Daniel Askill, Daniel Crooks, Michael Gallop, Sam Jinks, Christopher Langton, Ron Mueck, Adam Norton, Baden Pailthorpe, Patricia Piccinini and Ricky Swallow.
Curated by BRAG’s Director, Richard Perram OAM, Beyond Belief: the sublime in contemporary art promises to deliver an exhibition of works which inspire, surprise and awe, by some of the best known artists working in hyper realism, trompe l’oeil, scale and illogic.
Featuring 7 sculptures, 6 video based works and a three-dimensional painting, the works were sourced from public art museums and commercial galleries, as well as the artists and private collections.
“The idea of the sublime is something I’ve been thinking about since my time at university in the 1970’s and I believe it’s still a potent force in contemporary art,” says exhibition curator Richard Perram OAM. “Each of the works will elicit a powerful emotional response in the viewer.
It’s also important to note that the element of scale is central to all the works in Beyond Belief. There are works that are huge, life size and some that have been miniaturised which adds to our response of wonder.”
Beyond Belief: the sublime in contemporary art features big name sculptors Patricia Piccinini, Ron Mueck, Sam Jinks and Michael Gallop who all work within the hyper real, testing the limits of detail and material to create immaculate but troubling versions of human, animal and anamorphous forms.
Ricky Swallow and Christopher Langton both bring a different perspective to sculpture, subverting tradition and commanding the space their works inhabit.
Of the 6 video based works in Beyond Belief: the sublime in contemporary art, there are several must see works, each stretching technology and the viewer a little further. Sydney based artist Baden Pailthorpe’s hyper-real animations are technically extraordinary and depict a science fiction future that is easily believable.
Daniel Askill’s critically acclaimed award-winning film We Have Decided Not to Die 2003 will wow audiences with its breathtaking beauty and immersive surrealism.
Other films such as Patricia Piccinini’s computer-generated seascape Swell will manifest a physical response in the viewer.
Aside from scale defying sculpture and cutting edge video work, Beyond Belief: the sublime in contemporary art also includes a three-dimensional trompe l’oeil painting by Adam Norton titled Bunker Entrance (South Head) 2009, and we challenge audiences to find it.
Beyond Belief: the sublime in contemporary art will be on exhibition from Friday, March 31 until Sunday, June 4. Remember entry to the Gallery is FREE.
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