Beatrice Magalotti
RED GALLERY 5 - 23 May 2021
Forward Beatrice Magalotti’s latest body of work stills movement in a timeless fluidity and warm aesthetic. This is reflected in Magalotti’s approach to the underlying themes of migration, arrival and travel that explore the metaphorical, historical, cultural and socio-political in a gentle, yet unrelenting tugging undercurrent. This exhibition comes at a time when travel is at the forefront of many minds as a desire, dream or urgent need for international travel to recommence. The difficulties many have faced during the global coronavirus pandemic is compounded by the necessity to close borders and journey through challenging lockdown periods. Magalotti’s “Migration” series, inspired by her 2019 Denmark residency and migrant parents, speaks to the complex layers of migration and identity. The works are intimate and connecting, yet many stand isolated as solo units, and are without figurative elements. Instead, they draw attention to the contents and textures depicting layered meanings that almost contradict one another – fragility that is also resilient and robust; or the way that barbed wire that twines itself around precious cargo that is embraced, supported and enveloped by the security of the vessel. The shape of the vessels themselves reflect the idea of a cocoon, a safe space, that protects a life through a metamorphosis, yet could be overturned so easily, losing the precious cargo (and life) within.
Cara-Ann Simpson April 2021
Melbourne based artist, I currently work mainly in bronze. I graduated with a MA in Art and Curatorial Studies in 1994 and have exhibited professionally for a number of years, and am a member of various prominent artist and sculptor organisations. I am currently working on a new body of work that focuses on Migration. Boats metaphorically represent the paradoxical ease and difficulty of movement and travel embodied in the experience of migration. During the 42 day Covid -19 lockdown in Melbourne, I starting making ceramic boats and photographing the boats in various locations for a project called “42days42boats42Installations” This exhibition is a collection of bronze sculptures made from sketches and drawings brought back to Australia from my Art Residency in Denmark and photographs of the ceramic boats made during lockdown. All the works were completed in 2020 and 2021 - Beatrice Magalotti, May 2021 PRIZES & AWARDS 2021 Sculpture Prize, Arts Rutherglen 2020 Sculpture Prize, Contemporary Sculptors Association (CSA) 2020 Sculpture Prize, Melbourne Society of Women Painters and Sculptors (MSWPS) 2017 Yering Station, Sculpture Prize 2017 Annie Davison Oliver Award, MSWPS ART RESIDENCY 2019 Odense, Denmark 2018 Stöðvarfjörður, Iceland 2017 Stanley, Tasmania, Australia
In 2019, I participated in an art residency at Gæsteatelier Hollufgård, Denmark. This was an ideal environment both for working and the healthy exchange of ideas between fellow residents. It also provided me with a fresh outlook on my work. I was able to bring back new research including photos, sketches and a number of wax models for bronze sculptures. - Beatrice Magalotti
Migration Series #2 Bronze 24 x 41 x 11 cm
Migration Series #3 Bronze 24 x 41 x 11 cm
“Arrival” is one of the pieces that developed out of my residency in Denmark. and is part of my Migration Series. As the daughter of migrants, I am keen to explore notions of identity and travel associated with migration. Inspired by my research into boats in Denmark, and the hull of Barca Nostra at the 2019 Venice Biennale, my work evokes the bitter-sweet narratives of migration. The hand-sewn sacks and crudely stitched seams on the boat are metaphors for fragility, the act of mending clothes and patching together our lives. “Arrival” depicts the ending of a difficult and uncertain journey, where the migrants are absent, possibly having moved on. This work is both a celebration of migration as a new beginning and a personal protest against the way most developed countries approach migration. - Beatrice Magalotti
Arrival Bronze 13 x 37 x 10.5 cm
Precious Cargo #1,2 & 3 Bronze
Precious Cargo #1 Bronze 6.5 x 30 x 8 cm
Precious Cargo #2 Bronze 8.5 x 30 x 6.5 cm
Precious Cargo #3 Bronze 6.5 x 30 x 8 cm
Belongings Bronze 17 x 22 x 9 cm
Provisions Bronze 9 x 20 x 16 cm
Sacks Bronze 7 x 13x 13 cm
Wilsons Prom Giclee print 56 x 42 cm
42days42boats42installations This project is my response to the COVID19 Stage 4 lockdown in Melbourne, originally announced for 42 days from 2 August to 13 September 2020. Melbournians were limited to travel within a 5km radius, and only allowed to leave home for four reasons, 1 hour of exercise per day. A curfew between 8pm to 5 am – 8 pm was also imposed. This self-directed project focused my time and energy and helped me to remain productive during the lockdown. I made a boat for each day of the Stage 4 lockdown. Once the boats were fired and glazed, I photographed the boats in different environments as installations. Once the Stage 4 lockdown was lifted I was also able to photograph the boats outside the 5km radius from my home. Each boat’s surface shows stitched seams. The crudely stitched seams on the boat are metaphors for fragility, the act of mending and patching together our lives. Australians are still unable to travel overseas for other than exceptional purposes, but there is still a limited parcel post. I cannot leave Australia but my boats can. I contacted a number of artists and asked if they would be interested in photographing one of my ceramic boats and posting the photos on Instagram to give the boats a bit of a log of their journey. The response was overwhelming. On 1 February 2021, I sent 6 boats on their way, two to the United States, three to Europe and one to Western Australia. Boats that were made in an extreme lockdown when we could not move more than 5km are now travelling the world.
Diamond Bay Giclee Print 42 x 56 cm
Wilsons Promontory National Park Giclee print 42 x 56 cm
R E D G A L L E R Y, 1 5 7 S t G e o r g e ' s R o a d , F i t z r o y N o r t h