CAROL MURPHY Sculptural Forms IV 29 October to 24 November 2016
Carol Murphy, ‘Pierced 2’ 2016, ceramic white paperclay, 17.5 x 20 x 12.5cm
CAROL MURPHY Sculptural Forms IV 29 October to 24 November 2016
This fourth manifestation of the Sculptural Forms series, first started in 2009, began after Carol Murphy came across an online advertisement for an artwork at an English Antiques Shop. This elegant figure resembled a Cycladic sculpture, with the stylisation of the head and arms entwined. Murphy explains, “I have never wanted to own an artwork more. Upon first seeing it, I was captivated, with no providence attached, it resembled to me something Henry Moore may have carved, as it required considerable skill for its size... I expect it may have been carved by a European sculptor of some note, but somehow was separated from its history.” This exhibition commenced with Murphy’s desire to create a pastiche of the work that first captured her imagination nine years ago — a response to her immediate connection to it. It is also a continuation of a series of exhibitions that presented figures formed in simple shapes, however the new works are more stylised, elongated, forced into impossible positions, and pared back of recognisable features.
▶ ARTIST BIOGRAPHY (b. 1957. Donald, VIC, Australia) Well known for her figurative sculptural practice and textured vessels, Carol Murphy has had over fifteen solo shows with Access Contemporary Art Gallery/Brenda May Gallery. She first exhibited with the Gallery in 1994 with a solo show titled Lost Objects. Murphy’s qualifications indicate her varied technical skills and interests. She studied sculpture and painting at Ballarat College of Arts in Victoria (1975-76), sculpture and photography at Alexander Mackie College of Advanced Education in Sydney (1977), drawing, screenprinting, pattern making and ceramics at East Sydney Technical College (1980 - 87) and received a Ceramics Diploma from East Sydney Technical College (1992). In 2015, Murphy was selected to be a part of TURN, TURN, TURN curated by Glenn Barkley of The Curators’ Department. For the first decade of her exhibiting career, Murphy was heavily involved with artist run initiatives, including EMR in Sydney, which has been voted the most important artist run gallery of all time, as discussed in Andrew Frost’s the art life*. In 1995, Murphy was awarded a three-month residency at the Cite Internationale des Arts in Paris and in 2000 was acquired by the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin. Murphy is also in the collections of Campbelltown Bicentennial Art Gallery in NSW, Manly Art Gallery & Museum in NSW, Queensland University of Technology Art Collection, Artbank and Baker & McKenzie Solicitors in Sydney. Murphy’s thick-limbed sculptures often display paradoxical ideas of lack and fulfilment, as well as innocence and suggestiveness. She has two aesthetically distinct sides to her practice, either producing exhibitions featuring pensive forms with restricted hues, or playful figures full of colour. * http://theartlife.com.au/2007/official-emr-king-of-the-hill/
Carol Murphy, ‘Study 2’ 2016, ceramic white paperclay, 18 x 27.5 x 9.5cm
Carol Murphy, ‘Lupe’ 2016, ceramic white eathenware, 20 x 18 x 20cm
Carol Murphy, ‘Armless seated figure’ 2016, ceramic white papaerclay, 21 x 21.5 x 12cm
Carol Murphy, ‘Double dided head 1’ 2016, ceramic white papaerclay, timber base, 26 x 17.5 x 5cm
Carol Murphy, ‘Awkward woman 1’ 2016, ceramic white paperclay, 19 x 37 x 24.5cm
Carol Murphy, ‘Modular sculpture with raised leg variation 2’ 2016, ceramic white earthenware, timber base, 27.5 x 29 x 10.5cm
Carol Murphy, ‘Pierced 1’ 2016, ceramic white paperclay, 17.5 x 18 x 14cm
Carol Murphy, ‘Modular sculpture with raised leg variation 1’ 2016, ceramic white earthenware, timber base, 23 x 22.5 x 10.5cm
Carol Murphy, ‘Not listening’ 2016, ceramic white paperclay, 20 x 18.5 x 23.5cm
Carol Murphy, ‘White 3 part torso form’ 2016, ceramic white paperclay - 3 parts, 118 x 18 x 29cm dimensions variable
B R E N D A M AY
G A L L E R Y
2 D a n k s S t r e e t Wa t e r l o o N S W A u s t r a l i a 2 0 1 7 www.brendamaygallery.com.au info@brendamaygallery.com.au tuesday - friday 11-6 saturday 10-6 t. 02 9318 1122