florid

curated by
clare mcfarlane
+ andrew nicholls

4 july - 2 august 2014

Featuring artworks by Olga Cironis, Thea Costantino, Mel Dare, Eva Fernandez, Susan Flavell, Clare McFarlane, Ryan Nazzari and Andrew Nicholls.

Florid is a group exhibition of recent works by eight Western Australian mid-career artists who reference histories of decoration in order to explore subjectivity, identity, colonialism and/or nationalism. Collectively, the group draws upon influences including Rococo porcelain, Victorian china patterning, Arts and Crafts Movement design, and the decorative arts during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Spanning painting, sculpture, textiles, photography, drawing and ceramics, the exhibition was originally curated for fortyfivedownstairs in Melbourne, and is re-showing for Perth audiences at Turner Galleries.

The word 'florid' has both corporeal and aesthetic connotations as both describing the physical state of being flushed, and as a somewhat derogatory term for elaborate or excessively intricate detail. Curators Clare McFarlane and Andrew Nicholls particularly invited the participating artists to reference its antiquated meaning of 'being covered in flowers'. The artists were encouraged to explore the notion of excess, to create works in which the ornamental becomes too elaborate, where the intricate crosses over into something oppressive or sinister. [Andrew Nicholls & Clare McFarlane, curators.]

Stand out artworks from the exhibition include a new suite of floral photographs by Eva Fernandez, featuring native flora against a stylised sepia backdrop. Andrew Nicholls’ superb three-panel drawing Lilith pays homage to the decorative Art Nouveau and Pre-Raphaelite movements. Thea Costantino is represented by four photographs from her Ancestor series that explore the histories of empire and colonialism. Clare McFarlane’s paintings of native flora and fauna against William Morris patterned backdrops are a perfect fit with this show. Susan Flavell’s new lumpy and exotic vases feature a fabulous fleshy and flushed interior. Humour and satire abound in Ryan Nazzari’s very personal watercolours and Andrew Nicholls ceramic plates. Mel Dare’s dreamily smoke hued paintings drift between lacework and landscape, and finally, the exhibition contains some punchy works by Olga Cironis featuring embroidered flowers, woven hair and text.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

andrew nicholls self portrait with magickal + medicinal plants archival ink pen on watercolour paper 76 x 56cm [x3] 2013/14 $3,850 sold
andrew nicholls fighting fairies i archival ink pen + glitter on watercolour paper 19 x 19cm 2013 $450 sold	andrew nicholls fighting fairies ii archival ink pen + glitter on watercolour paper 19 x 19cm 2013 $450 sold
clare mcfarlane nature morte i acrylic + areosol on canvas 130 x 100cm 2013 $6,000	clare mcfarlane caladenia acrylic + areosol on canvas 130 x 100cm 2013 $6,000
olga cironis penelope's landscape hair, recycled frames 15 x 47 x 1cm [x3] 2014 $750 sold	olga cironis aphrodite's lover's belt embroidery, hair 96 x 36 x 2cm 2014 $3,850
ryan nazzari mismatched cabbage patch 1 watercolour + collage on strawboard 21 x 14.8cm 2014 $175	ryan nazzari mismatched cabbage patch 2 watercolour + collage on strawboard 21 x 14.8cm 2014 $175
mel dare obfuscate acrylic paint + ink on caravaggio linen 20.4 x 30.4cm 2014 $582	mel dare stuck acrylic paint + ink on canvas 20.3 x 15.2cm 2014 $395
susan flavell vase a stained + glazed stoneware 19 x 21 x 21cm 2014 $1,300	susan flavell vase b stained + glazed stoneware 21 x 21 x 15cm 2014 $1,300
eva fernandez flora obscura 1 edition 1/10 archival digital print on hahnemuhle fine art paper 56 x 56cm 2013 $450	eva fernandez flora obscura 2 edition 1/10 archival digital print on hahnemuhle fine art paper 56 x 56cm 2013 $450
thea costantino ancestor i edition 2/3 giclee print 103 x 75cm 2012 $1,200 sold	thea costantino ancestor ii edition 2/3 giclee print 103 x 75cm 2012 $1,200
thea costantino ancestor iii edition 2/3 giclee print 103 x 75cm 2012 $1,200	thea costantino ancestor iv edition 2/3 giclee print 103 x 75cm 2012 $1,200
andrew nicholls honey piglet [diptych] lustre decal on recycled olde alton + doulton bone china 18 x 18 x 1.5cm + 14.5 x 14.5 x 2.5cm 2013/14 $600	andrew nicholls lilith archival ink pen on arches aquarelle paper 57 x 76cm [x3] 2010-11 $3,850
andrew nicholls honey piglet gold decal on regency english bone china 14 x 14 x 2.4cm 2012 $300	andrew nicholls florid decal transfer on recycled wembley ware porcelain 15 x 15 x 2.5cm 2014 $300 sold
andrew nicholls florid decal transfer + gold lustre on recycled bristille porcelain 23 x 23 x 3cm 2014 $600	andrew nicholls the flight of ariel decal transfer on recycled city of perth crockery [bristille porcelain] 23 x 23 x 2cm 2014 $550
andrew nicholls bored fairies decal transfer recycled city of perth crockery [bristille porcelain] 23 x 23 x 3cm 2014 $550 sold	andrew nicholls koalarama decal transfer on wembley ware 24 x 24 x 2cm 2014 $550
clare mcfarlane nature morte study i acrylic on paper 36 x 29cm 2013 $490	clare mcfarlane nature morte study ii acrylic on paper 36 x 29cm 2013 $490
clare mcfarlane nature morte study iii acrylic on paper 36 x 29cm 2013 $490	clare mcfarlane nature morte study iv acrylic on paper 36 x 29cm 2013 $490
clare mcfarlane nature morte study v acrylic on paper 36 x 29cm 2013 $490	clare mcfarlane nature morte study vi acrylic on paper 36 x 29cm 2013 $490
mel dare points of reference acrylic paint, ink + watercolour on belgium linen 197.8 x 15.2cm 2014 $5,125	mel dare entitled acrylic paint + ink on canvas 20.3 x 25.5cm 2013 $525
mel dare traces of conditioning [a] acrylic paint + ink on wooden panel 65 x 70cm 2014 $1,100 sold	mel dare traces of conditioning [b] acrylic paint + ink on wooden panel 65 x 70cm 2014 $1,100
mel dare Truth based on falsehoods in absence of a good story acrylic paint + ink on wooden panel 35 x 40cm 2014 $750	mel dare vestige acrylic paint + ink on caravaggio linen 20 x 20cm 2014 $415 sold
mel dare between rust and lace acrylic paint + ink on canvas 15.4 x 20.1cm 2014 $325	mel dare verisimilitude acrylic paint + ink on wooden panel 20 x 20cm 2014 $425 sold
mel dare culture acrylic paint + ink on wooden panel 25 x 30cm 2014 $605	mel dare the ghost of contentment acrylic paint + ink on wooden panel 20 x 20cm 2014 $425 sold
mel dare florid acrylic paint + ink on canvas 15.3 x 20.3cm 2014 $395	mel dare conditional confusion acrylic paint + ink on canvas 20.3 x 20.5 + 15.5 x 20.5cm 2014 $590
mel dare in lieu of the truth acrylic paint + ink on canvas 15.3 x 20.3cm 2014 $395	susan flavell g stained stoneware 31 x 10 x 10cm 2013 $1,300
susan flavell vase c stained + glazed stoneware 17 x 13 x 12cm 2014 $1,300	susan flavell vase d stained + glazed stoneware 18 x 15 x 16cm 2014 $1,300
olga cironis it's the white in you that fascinates me text on domestic recycled cloth 163 x 29 x 0.5cm 2014 $2,200
olga cironis yes, you're so very special text on domestic recycled cloth 30 x 90 x 0.5cm 2014 $1,100
olga cironis wish you were here [diptych] hair, feathers, glass, metal frame 27 x 27 x 4cm [x2] 2013 $1,430
ryan nazzari mismatched cabbage patch 3 watercolour + collage on strawboard 21 x 14.8cm 2014 $175	ryan nazzari mismatched cabbage patch 4 watercolour + collage on strawboard 21 x 14.8cm 2014 $175 sold
ryan nazzari mismatched cabbage patch 6 watercolour + collage on strawboard 21 x 14.8cm 2014 $175	ryan nazzari mismatched cabbage patch 7 contact wrapped exercise book + mixed media 22 x 17.5cm 2014 $150
ryan nazzari mismatched cabbage patch 8 mixed media on paper 21.5 x 21.5cm 2014 $200	ryan nazzari mismatched cabbage patch 9 mixed media on paper 21.5 x 21.5cm 2014 $200
ryan nazzari mismatched cabbage patch 10 mixed media on paper 18 x 18cm 2014 $150	ryan nazzari mismatched cabbage patch 11 mixed media on paper 18 x 18cm 2014 $150
ryan nazzari mismatched cabbage patch 12 mixed media on paper 18 x 18cm 2014 $200	ryan nazzari mismatched cabbage patch 13 pen + pencil on paper 21 x 14.5cm 2014 $120
ryan nazzari mismatched cabbage patch 14 gouache + mixed media on paper 26.5 x 26.5cm 2014 $300	ryan nazzari mismatched cabbage patch 15 gouache + mixed media on paper 26.5 x 26.5cm 2014 $300
ryan nazzari mismatched cabbage patch 16 mixed media on paper 26.5 x 26.5cm 2014 $300	ryan nazzari mismatched cabbage patch 17 mixed media on paper 26.5 x 26.5cm 2014 $300
eva fernandez flora obscura 3 edition 1/10 archival digital print on hahnemuhle fine art paper 56 x 56cm 2013 $450	eva fernandez flora obscura 4 edition 1/10 archival digital print on hahnemuhle fine art paper 56 x 56cm 2013 $450
eva fernandez flora obscura 5 edition 1/10 archival digital print on hahnemuhle fine art paper 56 x 56cm 2013 $450 sold	eva fernandez flora obscura 6 edition 1/10 archival digital print on hahnemuhle fine art paper 56 x 56cm 2013 $450 sold
eva fernandez flora obscura 7 edition 1/10 archival digital print on hahnemuhle fine art paper 56 x 56cm 2013 $450	eva fernandez flora obscura 8 edition 1/10 archival digital print on hahnemuhle fine art paper 56 x 56cm 2013 $450 sold
eva fernandez flora obscura 9 edition 1/10 archival digital print on hahnemuhle fine art paper 56 x 56cm 2013 $450