Artrave

James Guppy has a curiously ambiguous place in contemporary art. This is not because of his subject matter, but rather because of his technique. For the most part Guppys recent work is not about fun, nor is it even really about sex. Rather he argues it is about the nature of exploitation. He argues that artists by their nature are voyeurs who see the world around them and all its objects as items to be used as visual product. His recent Peeping Box series taps into this idea where images of sexual activity with a particular sadistic overlay are presented behind thick glass to incite some vain attempt on the part of the viewer to engage in such voyeuristic acts.

Published June 2004

One or Two Things about Art and Shopping

Feature

Josephine Wilson

This article explores the relationship between art and shopping, in particular the contemporary alignment of the two as one and the way feminist identity is largely constructed through the media and consumption. Wilson looks at the work of Barbara Kruger and her critique of Western consumer habits, in particular the way Kruger explores the different shopping patterns of men and women to reflect some inherent gender traits.

Published June 2004

Holy, Holy, Holy

Review

Stephanie Radok

Flinders University Art Museum
20 February - 17 April 2004

Published June 2004

Enchantment/Disenchantment: The 2nd Auckland Triennial

Feature

Edward Hanfling

The generic theme for the 2nd Auckland Triennial Public/Private sought to address central issues concerned with the relationship of the visual art scene to that of the everyday life (to banality), the potential or otherwise of new technologies to engage with the conditions of modern society and the ability of art to deal in specific ideas of a social and political nature. Furthermore in bringing together artists projects that are cross-cultural and transgenerational, the curatorial aim was to make connections which would intensify the privacy debate. Edward Hanfling examines some of these works with regards to such issues and concerns.

Published June 2004

Place Made - Fifth Australian Print Symposium

Review

Stephanie Radok

National Gallery of Australia
2 - 4 April 2004

Published June 2004

How Much is that Artwork in the Window? Notes on Shops and Art

Feature

Juliette Peers

Through reference to Walter Benjamins writings, Peers suggests that it has become commonplace to describe the city in terms of the progress of the flaneur, the middle class bohemian who strolled through the city, moving in the ephemeral sphere of impressions and images. This article looks at shopping as a central feature to the manner in which Australian art and culture has developed. The artist is a shopper and collector, moving through the materiality of things. Australian culture has itself become flaneur-ised over the past decade in the expansion of new museums and cultural precincts inviting discovery and added pleasure to the experiences of viewing and consuming art.

Published June 2004

The Space Between

Review

Jessica Hemmings

John Curtin Gallery
Curtin University of Technology, Perth
14 - 17 April 2004

Published June 2004

Repercussions: Individual and Collaborative Works

Review

Ted Snell

Peter Hennessey & Patricia Piccinimi
Greenaway Gallery, Adelaide
28 February - 28 March 2004

Published June 2004

New 04

Review

Cliff Burtt

Guy Benfield, Nadine Christensen, Stephen Honegger & Anthony Hunt, Tom Nicholson, Sangeeta Sandrasegar, Parekohai Whakomoe
Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne
23 March - 16 May 2004

Published June 2004