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 |
Gail Hastings Installation 1989 / Fergus Armstrong Photograph 1989, Store 5, Melbourne
Suzannah Barta, Sandra Bridie, Lyndell Brown, Gail Hastings, Store 5, Melbourne
This Performance — A Passing Thought, Gertrude Contemporary, Melbourne
S.W.I.M. Fund Raiser, Linden Centre for Contemporary Arts, Melbourne
Melinda Harper, Gail Hastings, Gary Wilson, Constanze Zikos, FirstDraft Gallery, Sydney
Some examples of different ways, Store 5, Melbourne
No, just an empty square, Store 5, Melbourne
Production, Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane
Australian Perspecta 1991, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
Gail Hastings & Elizabeth Newman, Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney
Lovers, Heidi Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne
To make a work of timeless art, Artspace, Sydney
Road to Love, Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney
out of time: part two, David Pestorius Gallery, Brisbane
Art 1996 Chicago, David Pestorius Gallery, Chicago
Reservoir, Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery, Lake Macquarie
The Pool, Centenary Pools, Brisbane
To make a work of timeless art, Experimental Art Foundation, Adelaide
To make a work of timeless art, David Pestorius Gallery, Brisbane
Wall as Medium?, David Pestorius Gallery, Brisbane
four coincidences, Anna Schwartz Gallery, Melbourne
Duality: a series of weekly exhibitions during April 1997, David Pestorius Gallery, Brisbane
Art 1997 Chicago, David Pestorius Gallery, Chicago
two corners and a cube, Galerie Köstring/Maier, München
On Dialogue, Haus am Waldsee, Berlin
two and three stares, Galerie Mark Müller, Zurich
Statements Art 28‘97 Basel, David Pestorius Gallery, Basel
forgotten encyclopaedias, 24 Church Street, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
Art Forum Berlin 1997, David Pestorius Gallery, Berlin
To complete a work of contemporary art, Ausstellungsraum Thomas Taubert, Düsseldorf
art idea no. 8,582,048, Bahnwärterhaus, Esslingen
Close Quarters: Contemporary Art from Australia and New Zealand, Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane
art idea no. 8,582,048, Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin
projections, David Pestorius Gallery, Berlin
apparently not, David Pestorius Gallery, Berlin
I views, Canberra Contemporary Art Space, Canberra
Close Quarters: Contemporary Art from Australia and New Zealand, ANU School of Art Gallery, Canberra
The Space Here Is Everywhere: Art with Architecture, Villa Merkel/Bahwärterhaus, Esslingen
Space Affects: the art and architecture of James Birrell and Gail Hastings, Metro Arts, Brisbane
Open House, Pestorius Sweeney House, Brisbane
OUI we, The Commercial, Sydney
20/20, Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney
Exhibition: To Do, The Commercial, Sydney
Missing: four sculptuations by Gail Hastings, Apple Books, Available in 51 countries
Melbourne Art Fair, The Commercial, Melbourne
Taking it all away: MCA collection, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney