Description:
15 APR - 28 MAY 2021 [extended until 4 June 2021] Through an exhaustive description of the everyday and often overlooked objects in one suburban home in the early part of the twenty first century, as a form of archaeology of its recent past and present, Tony Griffin’s research considers how broader entanglements are hidden in our everyday through the proliferation of our things. Here, by exploring theories of the mutual dependency between humans and things, Griffin examines how his paintings provide agency in discerning those relationships and act as a means to understand our world in this age of anxiety. This exhibition constitutes the visual outcomes emerging from a practice-led Doctoral research project at the School of Arts, Federation University Australia. Tony Griffin’s is supported by an Australian Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset Scholarship through Federation University. Image: Tony Griffin Untitled, 2020 acrylic on board H20 X W20 cm Courtesy the artist
Description:
15 APR - 28 MAY 2021 [extended until 4 June 2021] Through an exhaustive description of the everyday and often overlooked objects in one suburban home in the early part of the twenty first century, as a form of archaeology of its recent past and present, Tony Griffin’s research considers how broader entanglements are hidden in our everyday through the proliferation of our things. Here, by exploring theories of the mutual dependency between humans and things, Griffin examines how his paintings provide agency in discerning those relationships and act as a means to understand our world in this age of anxiety. This exhibition constitutes the visual outcomes emerging from a practice-led Doctoral research project at the School of Arts, Federation University Australia. Tony Griffin’s is supported by an Australian Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset Scholarship through Federation University. Image: Tony Griffin Untitled, 2020 acrylic on board H20 X W20 cm Courtesy the artist
Description:
Considering the often-overlooked objects in a single Australian suburban home through the practice of still life painting, this project examines the everyday as a means to understand our anxious times. By employing phenomenological approaches this project explores the theoretical understandings of the everyday and many recent iterations of “thing theory”. Through the practice of still life, its traditions, language and its contemporary currency, painting is employed as a means to understand this age of anxiety. My research closely observes, documents and presents the everyday objects in a single suburban Australian home in the early part of the twenty-first century. Ian Hodder’s theory of entanglement and the mutual dependency between humans and things that it proposes, is considered as a suitable tool for a contemporary visual art practitioner in creating new understandings of our domestic and broader world. Additionally, my research employs the innovative and challenging approaches to the familiar championed by the French writer Georges Perec. His work in revealing an understanding of our world through the exhaustively comprehensive and meticulous description of everyday things provides a structural basis for this project. Our homes are where we experience the everyday nature of our existence most keenly and my home is not unlike the homes of others. It is a place that shares those broader ideals considered to constitute a home, my shelter and my refuge. It is a worthy place in which to seek an understanding of our complex world. This project reveals in paint my observations of the minor things which, when combined, constitute the major things in my small home. The result of these observations is a series of representations of a familiar environment that enables an audience to recognise their own surroundings and re-evaluate the many hidden entanglements in their world in more complex and evocative ways.
Description:
Considering the often-overlooked objects in a single Australian suburban home through the practice of still life painting, this project examines the everyday as a means to understand our anxious times. By employing phenomenological approaches this project explores the theoretical understandings of the everyday and many recent iterations of “thing theory”. Through the practice of still life, its traditions, language and its contemporary currency, painting is employed as a means to understand this age of anxiety. My research closely observes, documents and presents the everyday objects in a single suburban Australian home in the early part of the twenty-first century. Ian Hodder’s theory of entanglement and the mutual dependency between humans and things that it proposes, is considered as a suitable tool for a contemporary visual art practitioner in creating new understandings of our domestic and broader world. Additionally, my research employs the innovative and challenging approaches to the familiar championed by the French writer Georges Perec. His work in revealing an understanding of our world through the exhaustively comprehensive and meticulous description of everyday things provides a structural basis for this project. Our homes are where we experience the everyday nature of our existence most keenly and my home is not unlike the homes of others. It is a place that shares those broader ideals considered to constitute a home, my shelter and my refuge. It is a worthy place in which to seek an understanding of our complex world. This project reveals in paint my observations of the minor things which, when combined, constitute the major things in my small home. The result of these observations is a series of representations of a familiar environment that enables an audience to recognise their own surroundings and re-evaluate the many hidden entanglements in their world in more complex and evocative ways.
Description:
This research is concerned with a visual exploration and recording of that small area of the Golden Plains Shire on the outskirts of the Western Victorian city of Ballarat. Specifically I have investigated aspects of change as witnessed in the landscape within walking distance of my home between the Winter Creek and the Dog Trap Creek. The nature of change is significant as it shapes the physical, social and spiritual narratives played out before the frequent visitor.
Description:
This research is concerned with a visual exploration and recording of that small area of the Golden Plains Shire on the outskirts of the Western Victorian city of Ballarat. Specifically I have investigated aspects of change as witnessed in the landscape within walking distance of my home between the Winter Creek and the Dog Trap Creek. The nature of change is significant as it shapes the physical, social and spiritual narratives played out before the frequent visitor.