‘COUPLINGS’ 10.04 – 12.05.18
Couplings is a show about the private ‘pillow talk’ that goes on between artist couples, whether conscious or unconscious. By hanging or placing the works next to each other, the curators Helen Hyatt-Johnston and Brad Buckley explore how these conversations affect the work. Even when it may not be obvious in their visual or conceptual approach. Drawing these threads between their practices makes us consider how the thoughts and processes shared by those that we are closest to can seep through and influence our own judgements. Dominik Mersch Gallery will show the work of fifteen artist couples, looking at how this intimate exchange appears across generations, styles and mediums. What becomes apparent is that a surprising number of artists in Australia also have artist partners. Is it a case of like goes with like, or do opposites attract?
The participating artists include: Vanessa Berry and Simon Yates, Vicky Browne and Locust Jones, Josie Cavallaro and Somchai Chareon, Tracey Clement and Peter Burgess, Lottie Consalvo and James Drinkwater, Suzy Faiz and Matthys Gerber, Adrienne Gaha and Tim Maguire, Helga Groves and Matthew Johnson, Dana Harris and Peter Atkins, Francesca Heinz and Sach Catts, Lisa Jones and Richard Glover, Hilarie Mais and William Wright, Sarah Newall and Jane Polkinghorne, Anna Louise Richardson and Abdul-Rahman Abdullah, Nike Savvas and Stephen Little, Tiffany Shafran and Kyle Jenkins, and Rachel Sherwood and Teo Treloar.
Adrienne Gaha, ‘Small trees 2’, 2018, oil on linen, 120 x 90 cm, Courtesy the artist and Dominik Mersch Gallery, Sydney.
Tim Maguire, ‘Untitled 20180101’, 2018, oil on canvas, 102 x 102 cm. Courtesy the artist and Martin Browne Contemporary, Sydney.
dana harris, ‘open space’, 2017, cotton, wool and steel, 86 x 77 cm. Courtesy the artist.
Peter Atkins, ‘Freakbeat’, 2012, acrylic on canvas, 60 x 60 cm, Courtesy the artist, Tolarno gallery, Melbourne, and GAGPROJECTS, Adelaide.
William Wright, ‘Blue Reflection 1’, 2003, mixed media on wood, 102 x 102 cm. Courtesy Kronenberg Wright, Sydney.
Hilarie Mais, ‘Codex’, 2014, oil on wood, 104 x 104 x 4 cm. Courtesy the artist and Kronenberg Wright, Sydney.
Rachel Sherwood, ‘W,D,H’, 2017, galvanised steel, primer, 40 x 50 x 30 cm. Courtesy the artist.
Richard Glover, ‘Image # SP21-061’ from the series Paradise, 2017, Ultrachrome Ink Pigment on Hahnemühle Photorag 308gsm, 100 x 53 cm, edition of 5 + 1 AP. Courtesy the artist.
Sarah Newall, ‘Fashist: Transseasonal Wardrobe’, 2018, standing wardrobe and clothing: pine, plywood, recycled corrugated cardboard, fabric, cotton, leather, 120 x 100 x 28 cm. Courtesy the artist.
Teo Treloar, ‘No 6’, 2018, graphite on 640gsm paper, 56 x 76 cm. Courtesy the artist and Andrew Baker Art Dealer, Brisbane.
Lisa Jones, ‘Untitled’, 2018,digital print, pencil and embossing on paper, 101 x 144 cm. Courtesy the artist
Jane Polkinghorne, ‘Disco Balls', 2018, Inkjet on Ilford GallerieSmoothe Pearl, 100 x 190 cm, edition of 2. Courtesy the artist.
Tiffany Shafran, ‘A wave crashes’, 2017, found postcards, 10 x 18 cm. Courtesy the artist.
Josie Cavallaro, ‘Sedentary Australian White Ibis: study C’, 2018, ceramics, wood and fabric, 41 x 20 x 12 cm. Courtesy the artist.
Josie Cavallaro, ‘Sedentary Australian White Ibis: study B’, 2018, ceramics, wood and fabric, 35 x 20 x10 cm$600. Courtesy the artist.
Kyle Jenkins, ‘Position Point (Boilermaker) #56’, 2016, acrylic and paper on canvas, 46 x 36 cm. Courtesy the artist and NKN Gallery, Melbourne.
Somchai Charoen, ‘In – Mind’, 2018, porcelain, 10 x 5 x 12 cm each, edition of 2 with 12 sculptures in the series. Courtesy the artist.
Josie Cavallaro, ‘Sedentary Australian White Ibis: study A’, 2018, ceramics, wood and fabric, 15 x 20 x 27 cm Courtesy the artist.
Adbul-Rahman Abdullah, ‘TheBucket’, 2015, stained wood, galvanised bucket, 24x24x24 cm. Courtesy of the artist and Moore Contemporary, Perth.
Anna Louise Richardson, ‘Snake’, 2018, graphite and glitter on paper, 50 x 50 cm, framed. Courtesy the artist.
Nike Savvas, ‘17 seconds (4)’, 2016, foil and acrylic on canvas, 100 x 120 cm, $12,500. Courtesy the artist and Dominik Mersch Gallery. Photo by Jamie North
Stephen Little, ‘Bang the Black Drum’, 2016, digital inkjet print, 103 x 73 cm, edition of 2 + 1 AP. Courtesy the artist and Kronenberg Wright, Sydney.
Lottie Consalvo, ‘In Your Flight’,2018, 122 x 100 cm, acrylic on board. Courtesy the artist and Dominik Mersch Gallery, Sydney.
James Drinkwater, ‘Portrait Of The Artist’s Wife’, 2017, 140 x 122 cm, oil and hard collage on board. Courtesy the artist and Nanda\Hobbs, Sydney.
Tracey Clement, ‘Soft Science City I’ (detail above), 2018, laboratory glass and knitted acrylic, dimensions variable (19 units, maximum height 60cm). Courtesy the artist.
Peter Burgess, ‘Cause 4, IED, vest’, 2017, drawing, graphite on Rives BFK 280gsm, 76 x 56 cm, framed. Courtesy the artist and Milani Gallery, Brisbane.
Peter Burgess, ‘Cause 12, IED, shoe’, 2017, drawing, graphite on Rives BFK 280gsm, 76 x 56 cm, framed. Courtesy the artist and Milani Gallery, Brisbane.
Helga Groves, ‘Pallasite #1 (Meteoric - Fallen Star series)’, 2018, laser cut Perspex, 46 x 100 x 1.3 cm. Courtesy the artist and Galerie pompom, Sydney.
Matthew Johnson, ‘Nimbatus’, 2018, oil and microglass on linen, 72 x 72 cm,. Courtesy the artist and OLSEN GALLERY, Sydney.
Francesca Heinz, ‘The Bakers Daughter’, 2015, hand-coloured print, 66 x 74 cm, edition of 3 + 1 AP. Courtesy the artist.
Sach Catts, ‘Water Cure: Proto Pinus’, 2014, lubricated radiate pine, Tasmanian oak dowel, 135 x 200 x 90 cm. Courtesy the artist and 55 Sydenham Rd.
Suzy Faiz, ‘Luna’, 2018, oil on canvas, 51 x 51 cm, $850. Courtesy the artist.
Matthys Gerber, ‘Wither’, 2018, oil on canvas, 51 x 77 cm, $5,500. Courtesy the artist and Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney.
Simon Yates, ‘Murder Mystery One’, 2013, laser printed, 80 x 120 cm. Courtesy the artist.
Vanessa Berry, ‘Local Talismans’, 2014, riso print, 30 x 42cm, edition of 100. Courtesy the artist.
Simon Yates, ‘Murder Mystery One’, 2013, laser printed zine, 15 x 21 cm, edition of 20. Courtesy the artist.
Vicky Browne, ‘The Magic Surface’, 2017, glass, lead came, laser toner powder and thermal foil, dimensions variable. Courtesy the artist and Galerie pompom, Sydney.
Vanessa Berry, ‘I am a Camera #17’, 2014, riso printed and photocopied zine, 15 x 21 cm, edition of 250. Courtesy the artist.
Locust Jones, ‘Deep in the Woods’, 2017, enamel on ceramic bathroom tiles on marine plywood, 120 x 90 cm. Courtesy the artist and Dominik Mersch Gallery, Sydney.
www.dominikmerschgallery.com