JUNKO GO
July 25 – August 24, 2019
Left: I’m not strange, weird, off, nor crazy, rather my reality is just different from yours (detail), 2019, acrylic, oil pastel, charcoal on cotton duck, 64x80cm Cover: Threats are nonsense, flat and thin as a playing card, 2019, acrylic, oil pastel, charcoal on cotton duck, 76x101cm
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ARTIST STATEMENT It was back in August 2018 that my journey through Alice in Wonderland began when I was given the opportunity to paint a mural at the Contemporary Art Tasmania courtyard. I chose Alice in Wonderland as its subject matter, and the mural ‘We Are All Mad Here’ was completed in December 2018. Since then, I have continued exploring Lewis Carroll’s story and symbology with paint, and the works have grown in complexity and meaning over time. First published in 1865, the tale tells of a young girl who falls down a rabbit hole which brings her to a whole new world, where childhood is forever and dreams become a reality. Among many imaginative fantasy fictions, I particularly like Alice in Wonderland because the tale has a hidden subtext. The story excites us with an absurd plot and riddle-like quotes by the peculiar anthropomorphic creatures, but it also contains a palpable sense of wry humour and astute satire on our perception of good and bad, right and wrong, disgusting and cute, to which we often adhere blindly without asking why. I am not simply depicting scenes from the story. The story allows many interpretations. I am allowing the rubbery logic of the story to permeate and inform my own. I have employed the tale in my work as a philosophical reflection on our being, and ideas about duality; light and dark, frivolous and complex, meaningful and nonsensical. My lifetime thoughts and observation on ‘what it is to be human’ are embodied in this work. I wish for my work to be more than a little like Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Junko 2019
No impassable. No impossible. Obstacles often lead us to develop a different approach that works better to surprising but welcome outcomes (detail), 2019, acrylic, oil pastel, charcoal on cotton duck, 95x125cm
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Threats are nonsense, flat and thin as a playing card, 2019, acrylic, oil pastel, charcoal on cotton duck, 76x101cm
How do you know I’m mad? You must be, or you wouldn’t have come here, 2019, acrylic, oil pastel, charcoal on cotton duck, 125x156cm
All of us are weird in one way or another, so there’s no better chance to embrace it than now, 2019, acrylic, oil pastel, charcoal on cotton duck, 125x156cm
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I’m not strange, weird, off, nor crazy, rather my reality is just different from yours, 2019, acrylic, oil pastel, charcoal on cotton duck, 64x80cm
I’m a bit lost like Alice, a bit insane like the Cheshire Cat, a bit mad like the Hatter, 2019, acrylic, oil pastel, charcoal on cotton duck, 80x64cm
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No impassable. No impossible. Obstacles often lead us to develop a different approach that works better to surprising but welcome outcomes, 2019, acrylic, oil pastel, charcoal on cotton duck, 95x125cm
Alice tall, Alice small – You are always too tall or too small, 2019, acrylic, oil pastel, charcoal on cotton duck, 95x156cm
Grin without a cat has become to adopt another concept, 2019, acrylic, oil pastel, charcoal on cotton duck, 48x48cm
Finding wonderland is never far away because finding wonderland is finding who you are and going home again, 2019, acrylic, oil pastel, charcoal on cotton duck, 48x48cm
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The hurrier I go, the behinder I get, 2019, acrylic, oil pastel, charcoal on cotton duck, 33x33cm
Not predictably but inevitably, 2019, acrylic, oil pastel, charcoal on cotton duck, 33x33cm
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Imagination paints the rose whatever colour you want it to be. Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality, 2019, acrylic, oil pastel, charcoal on cotton duck, 156x95cm
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CV JUNKO GO Born in Japan. Arrived Australia 1992. Lives and works in Tasmania Education 2006 2001 1984-86 1977
Bachelor of Contemporary Art, University of Tasmania, TAS Diploma of Arts, Craft & Design, TAFE Launceston, TAS Studied Drawing at Duchess Community College, NY, USA Bachelor of English/American Literature, Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan
Solo Exhibitions 2019 Down the Rabbit Hole, Gallerysmith, Melbourne, VIC 2018 all about... Adam&Eve, Handmark Gallery, Hobart, TAS 2017 Me and My Beautiful Ugly Cakes, Gallerysmith, VIC 2016 all about… wild, gentle, happy, sad, crazy and sensible, Handmark Gallery, Hobart, TAS 2015 UnStill Life, Gallerysmith, Melbourne, VIC 2014 all about… piano man, Handmark Gallery, Hobart, TAS 2013 one+one, Gallerysmith, Melbourne, VIC 2012 all about… summer, Handmark Gallery, Hobart, TAS another kind of fable, Gallerysmith, Melbourne, VIC 2011 a kind of fable, Harrison Galleries, Sydney, NSW 2010 all about... animals, Handmark Gallery, Evandale, TAS tea is for..., Harrison Galleries, Paddington, NSW 2009 blue is for..., Handmark Gallery, Hobart, TAS all about... blooming, Gallery 101, Melbourne, VIC 2008 all about... flowering, Handmark Gallery, Hobart, TAS 2007 all about... hungry, Handmark Gallery, Hobart, TAS 2006 all about... trees, Gallery 101, Melbourne, VIC 2005 all about... happiness, Handmark Gallery, Hobart, TAS Me and My Ugly Mountain, Academy Gallery, Launceston, TAS 2003 all about... dogs, Handmark Gallery, Hobart, TAS 2001 all about... goats, Handmark Gallery, Hobart, TAS 1999 all about... birds, Handmark Gallery, Hobart, TAS 1998 all about... fish, Handmark Gallery, Hobart, TAS 1996 animal kingdom, Handmark Gallery, Hobart, TAS 1995 Junko Jungle, Dalmeny Gallery, Evandale, TAS Group Exhibitions 2019 John Glover Landscape Prize, Evandale, TAS 2018 Eskleigh Collection, QVMAG, Launceston, TAS Hutchins Art Prize, TAS 2017 Hyper-Botanica, Gallerysmith, Melbourne, VIC 2016 Smash & Grab, Gallerysmith, Melbourne, VIC Still Life Show, Handmark Gallery, TAS 2015 Celebration of North (Tasmania), Handmark Gallery, TAS Threehundredandthirty, Gallerysmith, Melbourne, VIC Still Life Show, Handmark Gallery, TAS Tasmanian Landscape Show, Handmark Gallery, TAS 2014 John Glover Landscape Prize, Evandale, TAS
2014 2013 2012 2011 2009 2008 2006 2004 2003
Threehundredandthirty, Gallerysmith, Melbourne, VIC Still Life Show, Handmark Gallery, TAS Celebration of North (Tasmania), Handmark Gallery, TAS Tasmanian Landscape Show, Handmark Gallery, TAS John Glover Landscape Prize, Finalist, Evandale, TAS Tasmanian Art Award 20th Anniversary Winners Exhibition, TAS Celebration of North (Tasmania), Handmark Gallery, TAS Tasmanian Landscape Show, Handmark Gallery, TAS Threehundredandthirty, Gallerysmith, Melbourne, VIC Out of Darkness, Gallerysmith, Melbourne, VIC Tasmanian Landscape Show, Handmark Gallery, TAS Threehundredandthirty, Gallerysmith, Melbourne, VIC Celebration of North (Tasmania), Handmark Gallery, TAS John Glover Landscape Prize, TAS Walk on the Wild Side, Harrison Galleries, Sydney, NSW Celebration of North (Tasmania), Handmark Gallery, TAS Tasmanian Landscape Show, Handmark Gallery, Threehundredthirty, Gallerysmith, Melbourne, VIC John Glover Landscape Prize, Evandale, TAS UnStill Life, Burnie Regional Art Gallery, Burnie, TAS John Glover Landscape Prize, Evandale, TAS John Glover Landscape Prize, Evandale, TAS Tidal Devonport Art Award, TAS Wallpaper, Carnegie Gallery, TAS and touring - Burnie Art Regional Gallery, TAS, QV Museum & Art Gallery,TAS, Wagga Wagga Regional Gallery, NSW City of Burnie Art Award, Burnie, TAS Devils and Angels, Academy Gallery, University of TAS, Launceston, TAS Royal Launceston Art Prize, Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, TAS
Award and Prizes 2011 Judge’s Commendation, John Glover Landscape Prize, TAS 2005 WINNER, John & Beverley Crook Fine Art Framers Award, University of Tasmania Dean’s Roll of Excellence, Faculty of Arts, University of Tasmania 2004 Highly Commended, City of Burnie Art Award, Burnie, TAS Dean’s Roll of Excellence, Faculty of Arts, University of Tasmania 2002 WINNER, Alfred Evershed Award, TAFE Tasmania WINNER, Kym Clayton Art Award, TAFE Launceston, TAS WINNER, Tasmanian Art Award, Eskleigh, TAS 2001 WINNER, Tasmanian Art Award, Eskleigh, TAS Collections 2019 2017 2009 2007 2006 2001/02
Contemporary Art Tasmania The Sebel Hotel Launceston Art Bank Australia Art for Public Building Scheme Tasmania, Royal Hobart Hospital Novaro’s Restaurant Eskleigh Collection
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ISBN: 978-0-6485467-2-6 Andrew Curtis Photography Daniel Cordner Design danielcordnerdesign.com
The hurrier I go, the behinder I get (detail), 2019, acrylic, oil pastel, charcoal on cotton duck, 33x33cm
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170-174 Abbotsford St North Melbourne 3051 03 93291860 Director: Marita Smith marita@gallerysmith.com.au gallerysmith.com.au