Chantal Faust
born Australia 1980
Lap Milk
2007
Chromogenic print
80.0 x 58.0 cm
Collection of the artist
© courtesy of the artist
Chantal Faust
born Australia 1980
Waiting
2007
Chromogenic print
80.0 x 58.0 cm
Collection of the artist
© courtesy of the artist
“Drawing on MGA’s collection of Australian photographs,
Photographic abstractions highlights
the work of 33 Australian artists who use photography to achieve
abstract effects. Ranging from modernist geometric abstraction and the
psychedelic experiments and conceptual projects of the 1970s, through to
recent explorations of pixelated pictorial space, this exhibition
surveys a rich history of abstract Australian art
photography. Photography is traditionally recognised for its ability to
depict, record and document the world. However, this exhibition sets out
to challenge these assumptions. As co-curator of the exhibition and MGA
Curator Stephen Zagala states, “The artists in this exhibition are
less concerned with documenting the world and more interested in
engaging the senses, exciting the imagination and making the ordinary
appear extraordinary.”
Some artists have eliminated the camera altogether, preferring the
effects that can be achieved with photograms and digital scans. Other
artists have experimented with multiple exposures, mirrored images,
irregular lenses and the printing of the usually discarded stubs of
negatives. Co-curator and MGA Curatorial Assistant Stella Loftus-Hills
says, “Photography has always been tied to abstraction. Some of the
first photographs ever produced were abstract and subsequent
photographers have sought out abstract compositions in their work.”
One highlight of the exhibition is a selection of works by the iconic
Australian photographer David Moore, who experimented with abstract
photography alongside his more well-known figurative work. In Moore’s
Blue collage (1983)
the process of cutting bands of colour from existing photographs to
create a new composition celebrates the artist’s imagination above and
beyond the camera’s ability to capture content.
Artists include Andrew Browne, John Cato, Jo Daniell, John Delacour,
Peter Elliston, Joyce Evans, Chantel Faust, Susan Fereday, Anthony
Figallo, George Gittoes, John Gollings, Graeme Hare, Melinda Harper,
Paul Knight, Peter Lambropoulos, Bruno Leti, Anne MacDonald, David
Moore, Grant Mudford, Harry Nankin, Ewa Narkiewicz, John Nixon, Rose
Nolan, Jozef Stanislaw Ostoja-Kotkowski, Robert Owen, Wes Placek, Susan
Purdy, Scott Redford, Jacky Redgate, Wolfgang Sievers, David Stephenson,
Mark Strizic and Rick Wood.”
