WA ARTISTS HIT THE MAINSTREAM
Coming up to its seventeenth year supporting the work of Australian emerging artists, the annual HATCHED exhibition at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art opened last week under the watchful eye of visiting curator, Aaron Seeto. Comprising a mix of often innovative sculpture, installation, painting and photography, the exhibition is fast becoming a must-see for local collectors keen to find the next big things in local art. While the organisers bill the show as “the most prestigious and comprehensive survey of new emerging artists in Australia today”, it doesn’t quite live up to the title, but worth a look all the same. The value for the practicing artist comes in the way of seminars which comprised part of the exhibition, particular those held by Seeto on the nature of being a professional artist in the modern age trying to carve out a living. Other speakers include Melbourne artist Darren Sylvester, Queensland artist Chris Bennie, and Fiona Maxwell, General Manager of the Next Wave Festival. This kind of exhibition and seminar program definitely shows that WA is leading the way in providing a platform for young artists and lending a helping hand into making the creative dream into a plausible career.
DAVID SPENCER IS A TALENTED CHAP
In other local emerging art news, a recent showing by Perth artist David Spencer hit the editorial of Australian Art Collector magazine following his sellout exhibition in January at United Galleries. His work will be featured again this year at United Galleries Unwrapped08 showcase of contemporary emerging art due to open in July. A man of many talents, Spencer also found time to support the visiting French band, Air at the massive outdoor concert in Kings Park on March 27. Busy guy.
HOT NEW INDIGENOUS ART
Randall Lane Fine Art opens this week with a much anticipated exhibition of Warakurna Artists including Tjapartji Bates, Tommy Mitchell, Carol Golding, Peter Lewis, Ivan Shepherd, Myra Cook and others. Open until May 3, this exhibition presents a contemporary and vibrant collection of very exciting indigenous work, definitely worth a look for those just starting a collection and wanting a break from the usual aboriginal fare.
- Robert Buratti is the Gallery Director at United Galleries in Perth.
- Image by David Spencer, "Try to Let It Go" (cropped)