On a dark and stormy night last week it would have been easy to stay in watching the rugby. Instead I headed up the hill to the Zig Zag Gallery in Kalamunda.
On offer was the opening of ‘From Boom to Bust’ the latest exhibition by a group of 12 well-known WA artists. It turned out to be another reminder about the importance of getting out the door and seeing what’s happening in your own town.
‘Bust’ is the follow up exhibition to ‘Boom’, something that doesn’t need to be explained to any West Australian at the moment. Twelve artists pondered the highs and lows of life and the result was a fascinating breadth of ideas.
Beba Halls ‘Heart of Bull’ bear depictions proved very popular, not only for the exquisite craftsmanship but also the resonance with the current market zeitgeist. Georgina Moss’s wounded bull rounded out the market story with its title … ‘Slaughter of the bull (market)’.
Louise Carre’s cup cakes took the notion of ‘bust’ to motherhood and thereby the restorative nature of a good home cooked cupcake. Made of ice and candle wax the cupcakes also reminded us of the fragility and impermanence of life, particularly when a loved one is diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Joannna Wakefield’s simple fluid figures (below) clearly reflect her interests in artefacts, ancient culture and prehistoric European influences. ‘The Dancer’ resplendent in gold, is a ‘celebration of survival’, a topic close to Joanna’s heart.
Teneke Van der Eecken’s pieces show that a message doesn’t have to be screamed out loud, it can be whispered through exquisite delicate pieces. Pieces like ‘Chunky Wearable Earth in Gold II’ which uses green prenite (gold plated) castings of hakea and other gumnuts. In other pieces she uses quartz crystal, gemstones, black tourmaline, and eucalypt seeds to great effect.
Diana Papenfus’s use of everlasting daisies had me pondering that not all boom and bust cycles are bad, in nature they are a necessity. Her other piece ‘Thirst’ asked the question about where does relief come from?
Continuing the natural theme Sylvie Millers pieces appeared more literal and no doubt influenced by her fashion background. Made of fabric, wood, xanthorrhoea, and eucalypt operculum they were beautiful. You could easily see them on the Perth Fashion Festival runway or a gothic movie set.
And so as I drove home with the thunder booming around me I wondered, if this is the beginning of a bust that we had to have, and that as in nature, it will herald brilliant new life. If so here’s hoping the new market will include some of Teneke’s twinkle and time to indulge in one of Joanna’s dances.
Boom to Bust is a high quality thought provoking exhibition well worth the trek up the hill to the beautiful Zig Zag Gallery. More photos on The Ponder Room.
Other artists shown are Jill Ansell, Andrea Osses, Sandra Perry, Geraldine Pillinger and Dean Whineray.
The exhibition is open until August 23rd. More information at Zig Zag Gallery.
