Exhibition text by Dr Marcus McMahon and Matthew D Lucas:What a thrill to be turned loose in the stock room of your favourite gallery! When the Director Claire and her assistant Melanie of Flinders Lane Gallery asked us to curate a personal selection from the FLG stock room for an online exhibition, we leapt at the chance and spent a wonderful afternoon putting together a fantasy collection. Starting with works from favourite artists a theme of sorts emerged; “A Journey into Dark Essentiality”. There is an inner reflective quality and a reduction to an essential state that seemed, in our minds, to link the works in a narrative that begins with contemplation and ends with possibility. We begin with Kathrin Longhurst’s PILOT GIRL. A sensational portrait in profile of a woman navigating the beginning of her journey; lower the goggles and off she goes. The virtuoso skill of Longhurst’s work is a joy to behold.We set off, and then come to a compelling work by Marise Maas IN ONE EAR. A brooding work for us dwelling on the notion of options, the ability to be aware of possibility and choice…or not. Hidden meanings and symbolism give pause.
The suggestion of an underlying darker storyline in the previous work led us to Michelle Molinari’s DEFENDERS. Her superb technique echoes the 17th & 18th century tradition of the Momento Mori painting, making us ponder the nature of life, birth, death and the endless cycle of existence.
That notion of sentinels and memoriams then lead us to Kathyrn Ryan’s A QUIET PLACE – NARINGAL and A QUIET PLACE – YARPTURK. There is a feeling of mournful peace in these works, not only in the beautiful technique and palette, but also the composition which calms the soul and lead us on……to Gina Kalabishis’s extraordinary triptych BUNDANON FLOOR TO SKY - YOU ARE ALWAYS PART OF ME NOW (AFTER VAN MORRISON). An exuberant explosion of seasonality and the force of nature which literally makes you stand back and inhale at the bravado of execution, skill and scale.
This notion of a contemplative and brooding landscape took us to Zac Koukoravas’s SLEEPING WATER. This layered work operates differently depending on where you approach the work from and the change of light through the day. It almost reflects the mood of the viewer as you move through your day; your life, and with the myriad of thoughts and possibilities we’re endlessly confronted with. This labyrinth of possibility takes us to Michael Gromm’s NEEDLESS TO SAY. An eternal deconstruction and a chaos presented with such beautiful colours and technique that this work provides endless points to find new relationships and entry.
Which lead us to want to look up, breathe and shake the metaphoric head with Waldemar Kolbusz’s SKIES. The scale of this work with the bold use of colour and form, and the potential of the heavens above to stimulate awe and wonder, make us want to sit back, exhale and... …find the way forward! Which brings us finally to Hannah Quinlivan’s WHAT REMAINS. A reflective monochrome work which gives us the form and structures to take us onwards with positivity and engagement for whatever might lay ahead.
So there you have it, our fantasy collection drawn from the wonderful resource that is FLG. With many thanks to Claire and the FLG team for giving us free range and the chance to create a virtual collection!
Dr Marcus McMahon Dr Marcus McMahon is an art collector, philanthropist, physician and a founding member of the Temperance Hall Society. He co-founded the BalletLab McMahon Contemporary Art Awardin 2017 for Victorian artists, and is a regular contributor to the BalletLab annual program. McMahon works as a respiratory and sleep disorders physician with expertise in the management of sleep disorders, and is passionate about medical education.
Matthew D Lucas Matthew D Lucas is a respected retail specialist with over thirty years experience across various niche sectors in the UK, Australia and the US. He has worked with media organisations, creative directors, national cultural institutions, retailers and the design community to build relationships and develop strategic partnerships. Lucas was an original foundation member of and is a current board member of Craft Victoria.
