Title: ‘Off’ - A Charis Art Group Collaboration Exhibition
Venue: the Red Door Gallery, at the garage Clunes Victoria
Date: November 2019
The Charis Art Group was formed in 2018, a small network of creative women from Ballarat and surrounding areas. Coming together, it was envisaged that in a peer supported environment, taking time out from busy working lives, an allotted space and time, would help to evolve their art practice and foster friendships with like-minded creatives.
Members include Christine Lethlean, Robyn Barnett, Deb Sonenberg, Sue Cabassi, Marcia King, Sylvia Doust, Kate Both.
The ‘Off’ exhibition is the groups first public event, and aims to showcase an array of work that has evolved over the past year. Each member has been invited to interpret the title ‘Off’ in their own style and artistic discipline. Artworks include suspended fibre installations, framed works, ceramics, basket weaving, costumery and mixed media sculpture.
For my contribution to the group display these 4 framed artworks were inspired by the internationally renowned graffiti artist Banksy. Arguably the most controversial ‘street artist’ in the world, Banksy has developed a subculture devoted to his artwork. His style is varied and eclectic and not only includes controversial images with strong messages but may also be discovered on the internet as viral images, or in obscure spaces as sculpture or performance art.
The most common form of street art by Banksy is the use of stencils. These are often multi-layered and combined with the use of spray paint using a limited colour palette, mainly black white and red. He also includes the use of street signs and printed items to convey his message in a street art installation. Banksy is renowned for his satirical approach, wit and dark humour and uses graffiti to spread messages across art, philosophy and politics.
In these artworks I have experimented in stitch, a minimalist technique that emulates a stencilled image on a white background, as if painted. Once the subject has been stitched, each piece is inserted into a collaged mixed-media background.
Each piece is controversial in nature and draws the viewer to look at subject matter differently with the use of simplistic imagery. In line with the exhibition theme ‘Off’ each piece is underpinned with an “off the richter” or ‘off balance’ connotation, highlighting the impact of human behaviour in the various contexts. Further to the ‘Off’ theme is the inspiration I have drawn from Banksy’s work as a graffiti artist, a form of artwork considered an underground criminal activity and a lawful offence.. Maybe it is my inner rebel, but I seriously admire Banksy’s ingenuity and provocative irreverence to spread powerful messages as graffiti art.
