NEW things for NEW15
The series is considered not only a predictor of Australian artists on-the-rise, but also a chance for audiences to immerse themselves in the latest ideas, methods and materials emanating from current contemporary artist practice.
This year, for the first time ever, the exhibition will be guest curated by a former NEW artist. 2008 NEW alumni Matt Hinkley will curate NEW15, and has invited eight artists to rise to the NEW challenge:
George Egerton-Warburton (born in Kojonup, WA; lives and works in Los Angeles, USA) often contrives uncontrollable conditions through which to create his artworks, which range across video, sculpture, painting, performance, events and installation. Egerton-Warburton received a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Curtin University, Perth, in 2009 and is currently studying towards a Master of Fine Arts at the USC Roski School of Art and Design in Los Angeles.
Richard Frater (born in Auckland, New Zealand; lives and works in Berlin, Germany) graduated with an MFA from Glasgow School of Art in 2012. Recent exhibitions include ‘Divers’, Robert Heald Gallery, Wellington, 2014; ‘Finally, we are metal’, Robert Heald Gallery, Wellington, 2013; and ‘(A Film Called) Ellipsis’, Adam Art Gallery, Wellington, 2013.
Jessie Bullivant (born in Albury, NSW lives and works in Melbourne) draws on found systems, structures and narratives to form works that exist both propositionally and as manifested actions. The authorship is often shared with the audience and external parties as Jessie creates a framework for reconsidering the many actions and events, orchestrated and otherwise, that make up our experience of a work.
Kate Newby (born in Auckland, New Zealand; lives and works in Auckland and New York, USA) consistently seeks alternative spaces for presentation that sit outside of traditional gallery contexts. Her work has been exhibited in New Zealand’s leading contemporary art institutions, and she has held residencies in Europe, Mexico and Canada.
Ash Kilmartin (born in Auckland, New Zealand; lives and works in Melbourne) is an artist and writer whose constructed sculptural works draw forms and references from the histories of design, architecture and theatre. Each work considers the nature of labour and time, and how value is conferred through the idea of ‘work’.
Paul Bai (born in Tianjin, China; lives and works in Brisbane) migrated to Australia in 1988 and graduated with a Bachelor of Visual Arts (Honours) from the Queensland College of Art in 1992. Bai embraces collaborative projects and possibilities, and has worked with Austrian artist Josef Strau and Melbourne duo burchill/McCamley.
Alex Vivian (born, lives and works in Melbourne) has studied at the VCA and RMIT and is working on various future projects encompassing ideas about clothing, stench and material change. Recent shows include: ‘Debut Stand’ (with Lou Hubbard), Westspace, Melbourne, 2014; ‘To propose an petroleum jelly advertisement or campaign’ at Flake, Melbourne, 2013; and ‘Reinventing the wheel: The Readymade Century’ at Monash University Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne, 2013.
Adelle Mills (from Melbourne) works primarily in video, documenting and creating human interactions. She graduated from the VCA, Melbourne with a Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours). During this degree Mills participated in a semester exchange at the Glasgow School of Art, and was awarded an Irene Davies Undergraduate Award for Excellence.
Curator Matt Hinkley lives and works in Melbourne. Co-director of World Food Books, Matt recently curated Habitat with Joshua Petherick at Minerva in Sydney, and his work has most recently been included in the 19th Biennale of Sydney: You Imagine What You Desire, Sydney, 2014; A world undone, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki , Auckland, 2014 and Melbourne Now, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.
“Over many years Matt Hinkley and I have had great conversations about art. Matt brings an artist's depth of interest and knowledge to his own work and to his observation of the work of other artists. NEW15, as selected by Matt,will be a surprising ensemble of works and actions that indicate the shifting conceptual terrain of contemporary art.
“Playful, political, environmental and social, these projects demonstrate artists engaging with audiences, ideas and the history of practice. This will be a challenging and provocative NEW which once more taps into the local zeitgeist,” said ACCA Artistic Director Juliana Engberg.
NEW15 – 13 March to 17 May, 2015.
Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, 111 Sturt Street, Southbank.
10am – 5pm Tuesday to Friday 12pm – 5pm Weekends & public holidays Monday by appointment
Tel: 03 9697 9999. Admission: Free. www.accaonline.org.au
For further media information: Katrina Hall on 03 9697 9999,
mobile 0421 153 046 or email kathall@ozemail.com.au
ACCA is supported by the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy, an initiative of the Australian, State and Territory Governments.