17 April 2007

Opening at the Shepparton Art Gallery on Friday 20 April is Julie Bartholomew’s Transitional Bodies.

The exhibition includes a major installation work that was acquired by the gallery with the assistance of the Arts Victoria Regional Galleries Collection Fund.

Acting Director Kirsten Lacy says that this work will be exhibited in its entirety for the first time in Shepparton.

“The exhibition consists of four life-size porcelain figures and digital projection. The figures are cast from actual women, and constructed from doll-like parts that fit together,” says Ms Lacy.

“The women are sitting down with closed eyes and a photo-media work is projected onto their white bodies. This projection is a composite of advertising images and actual women interviewed and photographed by the artist during her Australia Council Residency in Tokyo during 2003/2004.”

As suggested in the title of Julie Bartholomew’s exhibition, reference is made to bodies that are ‘in transit’ and between destination points. Also inferred is a state of transition occurring on and around the female body as it is fashioned, accessorised, modified and represented.

“These physical changes also relate to a transition in perception and understanding about how the body operates as a site on which cultural ideas of beauty, control and identity are played out.”

“The exhibition includes many other sculptural works that draw inspiration from high end fashion accessories, moulded with the allure of a department store cosmetic counter.”

The exhibition is accompanied by an attractive full color catalogue published by the Shepparton Art Gallery.

The artist will be travelling to Shepparton to hold a one off workshop on Saturday 21 April in casting from the body. This is a wonderful opportunity for VCE students, teachers and practicing artists to learn from a contemporary artist at the forefront of her field.

The exhibition is open from Friday 20 April to Sunday 27 May.

For more information on the exhibition or to book for the workshop contact the Shepparton Art Gallery on 5832 9861.

– Released 17 April