Wednesday 26 January - Saturday 12 February 2011
Opening night: Thursday 27 January, 6-8pm
Free and all welcome
Lucas Grogan: thegoldenpony.livejournal.com
Since first meeting at the University of Newcastle in 2003, Lucas Grogan and Luke Thurgate have exhibited extensively together. While at first their art appears to be dramatically different, both artists’ practice is based primarily on drawing.
Thurgate's 'le pitite morte' portraits position the viewer as voyeur, accomplice and perpetrator. Their seductive darkness at times belies their content; we are left unsure as to the exact nature of the precipice of emotion on the subjects face. Masterfully rendered, Thurgate's mysterious works reinforce the belief that it's a fine line between pleasure and pain.
In contrast between Thurgate's exacting academic-style drawings, Grogan's works, from the series 'New Gold Islands' conflate numerous cultural patterns to create graphic monotonal works atop of gold boards. Whilst now well known for his appropriation of indigenous art, this series also clearly references Islamic, Australiana and European lace. Grogan's works appear like treasure washed ashore.
