Exhibition curatorial
by Geraldine Barlow
As Individuals we are capable, but so much more so when we act together. The collective body is a complex mechanism: a layering of systems, societies, generations, inheritances and innovations. Groups of human beings have developed numerous models to identify with each other, work together, build societies and exercise power. Democracy is just one of these; with a long history of development. […] How can we actively revitalise, rebuild and own this collective body? What is the place of democracy in the process and what opportunities are there for the development of existing and jew democratic mechanisms?
Direct Democracy explores these questions through the work of nineteen contemporary artists and artist collectives. […]
Gail Hastings offers an abstracted map of the ayes (yellow), the nos (in red) and a space in between in white, in her 2012 work Space holder for a yellow, white and red space. What is the purpose of this space in between? Hastings maps out a sculptural volume for each side of the proposition […] As Hastings’ work states, ‘Until such time as the debate is resumed, the before-mentioned space will remain on hold’.
Excerpt from Geraldine Barlow, ‘Direct Democracy’, in Geraldine Barlow (ed.), exhibition catalogue, Monash University Museum of Art, Melbourne 2013, p. 91, 98-98.
A review
by Suzanne Fraser
The modern development of a “good form of government”, as articulated by John Stuart Mill in the sixteenth century, finds contemporary articulation in an infinitely fascinating sculpture by Gail Hastings entitled Space holder for a yellow, white and red space (2012). Here the mechanisms of voting, competition, representation, and bureaucracy are lent an elegant and quietly humorous disposition that contorts the understanding of the viewer through ambiguity and metanarrative.
Excerpt from Suzanne Fraser, web review, Melbourne, 28/05/2013.
Exhibition | |
Date: | 26/Apr/2013 to 06/Jul/2013 |
Curated by: | Geraldine Barlow |
At: | Monash University Museum of Art, Melbourne |
Artists: |
Laylah Ali, Hany Armanious, Natalie Bookchin, A Centre for Everything, DAMP, Destiny Deacon, Alicia Frankovich, Will French, Gail Hastings, Alex Martinis Roe, Andrew McQualter, John Miller, Alex Monteith, Raquel Ormella, Mike Parr, Simon Perry, Carl Scrase, Milica Tomic, Kostis Velonis, Jemima Wyman |
List of Works: |
by Gail Hastings Space holder for a yellow, white and red space |
Bibliography: | Geraldine Barlow, Direct Democracy, in Geraldine Barlow (ed.), exhibition catalogue, Monash University Museum of Art, Melbourne 2013, pp.50–3, 98–9, 101, 106. |
Monash University Museum of Art Dir: Charlotte Day Ground Floor, Building F |
14 July 1989 Gail Hastings Installation 1989 / Fergus Armstrong Photograph 1989, Store 5, Melbourne
12 August 1989 Suzannah Barta, Sandra Bridie, Lyndell Brown, Gail Hastings, Store 5, Melbourne
11 November 1989 A3 20, Store 5, Melbourne
30 November 1989 This Performance — A Passing Thought, Gertrude Contemporary, Melbourne
1 December 1989 S.W.I.M. Fund Raiser, Linden Centre for Contemporary Arts, Melbourne
1 March 1991 Exsultate, Jubilate, Store 5, Melbourne
21 April 1990 Room for Love, Store 5, Melbourne
18 August 1990 Uses of Chaos, Gertrude Contemporary, Melbourne
20 September 1990 4th Australian Sculpture Triennial Forum, Melbourne Lower Town Hall, Melbourne
9 October 1990 Dis-location, RMIT Gallery, Melbourne
13 October 1990 Drawings, Store 5, Melbourne
14 November 1990 Floor Plan: Empty, except, Gertrude Contemporary, Melbourne
6 April 1991 Some examples of different ways, Store 5, Melbourne
27 April 1991 No, just an empty square, Store 5, Melbourne
1 August 1991 Production, Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane
7 August 1991 Australian Perspecta 1991, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
11 December 1991 Gail Hastings & Elizabeth Newman, Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney
5 December 1995 Lovers, Heidi Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne
7 March 1996 To make a work of timeless art, Artspace, Sydney
20 March 1996 Road to Love, Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney
20 April 1996 out of time: part two, David Pestorius Gallery, Brisbane
9 May 1996 Art 1996 Chicago, David Pestorius Gallery, Chicago
24 August 1996 Reservoir, Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery, Lake Macquarie
22 September 1996 The Pool, Centenary Pools, Brisbane
3 October 1996 To make a work of timeless art, Experimental Art Foundation, Adelaide
30 November 1996 To make a work of timeless art, David Pestorius Gallery, Brisbane
7 March 1997 Wall as Medium?, David Pestorius Gallery, Brisbane
4 April 1997 four coincidences, Anna Schwartz Gallery, Melbourne
8 May 1997 Art 1997 Chicago, David Pestorius Gallery, Chicago
23 May 1997 two corners and a cube, Galerie Köstring/Maier, München
30 May 1997 On Dialogue, Haus am Waldsee, Berlin
7 June 1997 two and three stares, Galerie Mark Müller, Zurich
11 June 1997 Statements Art 28‘97 Basel, David Pestorius Gallery, Basel
2 August 1997 forgotten encyclopaedias, 24 Church Street, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
1 September 1997 Art Forum Berlin 1997, David Pestorius Gallery, Berlin
6 December 1998 art idea no. 8,582,048, Bahnwärterhaus, Esslingen
5 March 1999 art idea no. 8,582,048, Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin
21 April 1999 projections, David Pestorius Gallery, Berlin
30 April 1999 apparently not, David Pestorius Gallery, Berlin
12 June 1999 I views, Canberra Contemporary Art Space, Canberra
10 September 1999 Open House, Pestorius Sweeney House, Brisbane
11 September 1999 Sorry, we are closed, UQ Art Museum, Brisbane
25 January 2003 sculptural situation: plans, Heidi Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne
4 April 2003 In Conversation, UQ Art Museum, Brisbane
6 June 2003 Hothouse: The flower in contemporary art, Monash University Museum of Art, Melbourne
3 September 2003 Private/Corporate II, Daimler Contemporary, Berlin
7 November 2003 But is it art?, The Cross Art Projects, Sydney