New Exhibitions at Beaver Galleries: Alexander Boynes, Maria Chatzinikolaki, and David Frazer
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Wed 01 Jun 2016 - Sun 03 Jul 2016
Alexander Boynes: Body / Time / Light (paintings)
"I've always been fascinated by light, movement and the human body," says Alexander Boynes. Body / Time / Light is Boynes' latest exhibition of work at Beaver Galleries this month. Pieces included in this collection have been inspired by two collaborative projects the Canberra-based artist has been working on recently:
1.
Arnhembrand focuses on the art, science and stories of communities in the Djelk Indigenous Protected Area in Arnhemland. The purpose of this project was to promote and draw awareness to these remote communities. Boynes is proud of "Working with Aboriginal communities to help make their stories valued and known, and projects I've been involved in that address a desperate need to preserve our landscape in the face of climate change".
2.
PRAXIS was a collaborative project with dancer/choreographer Laura Boynes, and cellist/composer Tristen Parr in 2013, which explored "the link between visual art, performance, and sound".
"More recently my work has explored human adaptation, the boundaries set by our environment, and the ephemeral nature of existence. My work often investigates the intersecting lines between technology and the body, our approach to the landscapes we inhabit in the digital age, and aims to address contemporary culture and its fears, challenges and the hope for a positive future for Australia," explains Boynes.
Works featured in
Body / Time / Light are dynamic and engaging – bursting with energy and colour. The fluoro paint Boynes has applied to the back of his works creates a unique radiance and glow, highlighting the movement captured in each piece.
"Both of my parents are painters, and encouraged me to be a lawyer, a stockbroker, a doctor or anything but another poor artist. So I really broke to mould, and studied Gold and Silversmithing at the ANU. Oh genetics," says Boynes. Following his graduation from the Australian National University School of Art with Honours in Gold and Silversmithing in 2004 and in 2005, Boynes has established himself as a talented, respected artist nationally and internationally. His work has been exhibited at "Talente", Munich Art Fair, Germany, as well as extensively throughout Australia in solo and group exhibitions.
What's next for Boynes?
"To keep making art that is both critical and reflective of the world around me. I really want to tour Dark Matter around the rest of Australia, but it's not easy with half a dozen dancers and more than a tonne of rice!"
Maria Chatzinikolaki: Essence of ... (ceramics)
Maria Chatzinikolaki's goal is "for people to be able to attach a part of themselves to my work and turn them into personal objects… I try to create forgotten feelings or memories." In her latest exhibition, Essence of… at Beaver Galleries this month, Chatzinikolaki's pieces explore "the daily concerns and thoughts about all sorts of relationships and how they work, how everything in life is related and connected and how it makes more sense with the passing of time."
Aesthetically, Chatzinikolaki's ceramic pieces have a simple colour palette: black, white, cream, and brown, with gold, silver and red highlights. They also incorporate intricate animal forms, such as moths and spiders, as well as larger animals including an owl, monkey, and snake. Organic motifs such as feathers, leaves, roots, dots and lines adorn Chatzinikolaki's work. Some pieces also include natural elements such as feathers, twigs and grass.
Before moving into ceramics, Chatzinikolaki completed a Bachelor in Graphic Design and Interior Design and was a practicing interior designer. The graphic, intricate patterns featured in Chatzinikolaki's work allude to her background in interior and graphic design. Having emigrated from Greece in 2007, Chatzinikolaki also draws inspiration from her new life in Australia. Chatzinikolaki has also completed a Bachelor of Visual Arts majoring in drawing and ceramics at TAFE and now regularly exhibits in Adelaide (her home town). Chatzinikolaki was named winner of the President Award, Craft South, Adelaide in 2011. She also exhibited in the Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize this year.
David Frazer: Drift (prints)
"Truth, despair and the emotional and fragile state of the human condition" are just some of the themes that David Frazer conveys throughout works featured in his latest exhibition,
Drift. Working with intricate wood engravings, etchings, lithographs, paintings and bronze sculptures, these mediums assist Frazer in depicting "isolation and both rural and urban decline". Frazer's works often feature a solitary character, looking lost or deep in thought. Sound depressing? It's not. Frazer approaches these potentially negative tensions with "slight optimism and wry humour". The images he creates are poignant, but open-ended and leave the viewer to draw their own conclusions. Frazer believes, "being happy and optimistic all of the time isn't funny or tragic and wouldn't make for very interesting art". I personally love Frazer's nostalgic colour palette of vintage greens, blues and yellows that conjure memories of bygone years.
Specialising in painting, Frazer graduated from the Phillip Institute of Technology, Melbourne with a Fine Art degree. This was followed by an Honours degree from Monash University specialising in Printmaking in 1996, and a Master of Arts in 2000. Frazer's other career highlights include being featured in ABC's documentary series 'Artist at Work' in 2007. He also received a Silk Cut Award in 2013. You can find many of Frazer's works in Australian and overseas collections including: the National Gallery of Australia, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Art Gallery of South Australia, Australian War Memorial, State Library of Victoria, and Chiang Mai Contemporary Art Museum of Thailand.
All exhibitions are at Beaver Galleries until 3 July 2016.
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!date 01/06/2016 -- 03/07/2016
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160283 - 2023-06-14 17:31:42