Monster Children

Monster Children Gallery presents SOUTH

Opening night: THURSDAY 4TH JUNE 6.00PM
Exhibition continues from 5TH JUNE - 27TH JUNE, 2009.

About the Exhibition:
Seven of the most interesting and acclaimed new artists working in and out of Melbourne today will feature in the group exhibition titled ‘South’ at Monster Children Gallery from June 3 – 25, 2009.

Presenting multi-disciplinary work through sculpture, drawing, photography, painting and mixed media, the exhibition will showcase the varying influences, backgrounds and experiences of artists Martin Bell, Christopher Day, Nathan Gray, Misha Hollenbach, Dylan Martorell, Riley Payne and Amber Wallis.

In assembling these artists, Monster Children Gallery aims to represent in part the current wave of exciting talent emerging from Melbourne.   Having been nurtured by the energetic and supportive Melbourne arts community and the many small galleries, museums and artist run initiatives which thrive in the city, each of the seven practitioners is now gaining momentum and regard for their individual practice, both here and overseas.

Originally from New Zealand, painter Amber Wallis was the winner of the prestigious Brett Whiteley Traveling Art Scholarship in 2008.  Her work has been exhibited widely both in Australia and overseas and has received extensive coverage in the national and metropolitan arts media.

Christopher Day’s unique take on urban still life photographv has gained him considerable acclaim, injecting an absurdist intelligence and an understated wit into the genre.  He has been featured in numerous publications including Photofile and Hijacked and held his first solo exhibition, A Little Boob, at Victoria Park Gallery in 2008.

Dylan Martorell is an artist and musician who has been working commercially as an illustrator for four years. His music and art practice frequently intersect and merge together, and he has worked for Tokion, Vitra, Nieves and the New York Times.  His illustrations for the Sydney Theatre Company production The Wonderful World of Dissocia currently appear in the Company’s season program.

Martin Bell’s 2008 book ‘My Birthday Party’ attracted critical reviews ranging from “one of the greatest things to come out of Melbourne in the past year’ to ‘the most awesome book ever made’.  The collection of photos, drawing and collage that chronicled the installation’ that took over his apartment fast became a collectors item and established Bell as one of the most exciting artists working in Melbourne today.

Nathan Gray is an artist and musician whose exquisitely detailed assemblages incorporating screen print, collage and drawing have resulted in a series of breathtaking exhibitions both in Australia and overseas.  He recently completed a residency at the Sacatar foundation in Bahia, Brazil, and a commission for The Australian Centre for Contemporary Art’s ‘Mirka at Tolarno’ space.

Working solo, as one half of duo Perks and Mini and also as a quarter of international art collective The Changes, Misha Hollenbach’s books, art, toys, and fashion have earned him a global cult following. He has exhibited extensively both in Australia and overseas, and following a sold out exhibition earlier this year at iconic Los Angeles gallery New Image Art, Misha's fine art is highly coveted.

Riley Payne makes evocative text based drawings that explore themes of domestic terror and/or bliss. Riley’s contemporary and nostalgic pop references question artistic authorship and the life of the image on the internet.

SOUTH
June 5th – June 27th, 2009
Opening Night Thursday June 4th at 6pm.
Monster Children Gallery
20 Burton St, Darlinghurst
02 9332 2040.
Gallery Hours: 12pm – 6pm Wednesday to Saturday.
www.monsterchildren.com/gallery