Chaos&Order: 120 Years of Collecting at RMIT opening soon!
Presenting the work of over 80 artists, Australian and international, created throughout the last century or more, Chaos & Order is RMIT Gallery's ambitious inaugural survey of the University art collection. It is both a showcase for some the most exciting modern and contemporary art held by an Australian university, and an exploration of the nature of the way contemporary art collections are formed and understood.
Venue: RMIT Gallery
Address: RMIT Gallery, 344 Swanston Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
Date: April 12-June 9 2018
Ticket: FREE
Web: www.rmitgallery.com
Address: RMIT Gallery, 344 Swanston Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
Date: April 12-June 9 2018
Ticket: FREE
Web: www.rmitgallery.com
Presenting the work of over 80 artists, Australian and international, created throughout the last century or more, Chaos & Order is RMIT Gallery's ambitious inaugural survey of the University art collection.
Encompassing some of the finest examples of modern and contemporary art in Australia, the values first adopted at the founding of RMIT University as the Working Men's College, "a skilled hand, a cultivated mind", resonate through the collection. Over the years it has become something of a cultural barometer, demonstrating the evolution of artistic style, thought and technique across decades and generations.
Besides being a showcase for some of the most highly regarded artists that both RMIT and Australia have produced, Chaos & Order is an exploration of the nature of art collections and the uses to which they are put. Public collections can be paradoxical beasts: they often strive to adhere to strict criteria (chronology, style or taxonomy; art history, theory and criticism) or to be encyclopaedic in their holdings, but are frequently defined by their gaps, by what is left out. Just as often, their successes can be the result of happy errors, like the serendipitous discovery of hidden treasures.
The intended purpose of the RMIT Art Collection is to tell the story of RMIT through the creative endeavours of its staff, alumni, and of external artists whose work mirrors the University's own ideals and aspirations "“ a broad remit, perhaps impossible to achieve, and difficult to communicate in the context of an exhibition. How does one reconcile the academic style or Rupert Bunny with the minimalism of Robert Hunter, or the hyperrealism of Sam Jinks, without retreating to historical narrative?
Chaos & Order therefore embraces the contradictions inherent in the collection, and dispenses with the restrictive dictates of art historical, technical or stylistic categories. Instead, it suggests new relationships based on visual, poetic, thematic, and emotional resonance and dissonance.
Chaos & Order has been produced in collaboration between RMIT Gallery and students from the RMIT MA Arts Management program.
Featuring artists including: Tate ADAMS, Howard ARKLEY, Khadim ALI, Hannah BERTRAM, Peter BOOTH, Polly BORLAND, Godwin BRADBEER, Rupert BUNNY, Penny BYRNE, Maria Fernanda CARDOSO, Peter CLARKE, Michael COOK, Len CRAWFORD, Daniel CROOKS, Craig EASTON, Peter ELLIS, Craig EMMERSON, Juan FORD, Hayden FOWLER, Len FRENCH, Sally GABORI, Bill HENSON, Petr HEREL, Clare HUMPHRIES, Robert HUNTER, Robert JACKS, Sam JINKS, George JOHNSON, Roger KEMP, Inge KING, Grahame KING, Juz KITSON, Grace Lillian LEE, Jenny LOFT, Helen MAUDSLEY, Nick MOURTZAKIS, Trevor NICKOLLS, Jill ORR, Polixeni PAPAPETROU, Susan PHILIPSZ, Anthony PRYOR, Reko RENNIE, Yhonnie SCARCE, Greg SEMU, Jan SENBERGS, Christian THOMPSON, Kawita VATANAJYANKUR, Ah XIAN
Encompassing some of the finest examples of modern and contemporary art in Australia, the values first adopted at the founding of RMIT University as the Working Men's College, "a skilled hand, a cultivated mind", resonate through the collection. Over the years it has become something of a cultural barometer, demonstrating the evolution of artistic style, thought and technique across decades and generations.
Besides being a showcase for some of the most highly regarded artists that both RMIT and Australia have produced, Chaos & Order is an exploration of the nature of art collections and the uses to which they are put. Public collections can be paradoxical beasts: they often strive to adhere to strict criteria (chronology, style or taxonomy; art history, theory and criticism) or to be encyclopaedic in their holdings, but are frequently defined by their gaps, by what is left out. Just as often, their successes can be the result of happy errors, like the serendipitous discovery of hidden treasures.
The intended purpose of the RMIT Art Collection is to tell the story of RMIT through the creative endeavours of its staff, alumni, and of external artists whose work mirrors the University's own ideals and aspirations "“ a broad remit, perhaps impossible to achieve, and difficult to communicate in the context of an exhibition. How does one reconcile the academic style or Rupert Bunny with the minimalism of Robert Hunter, or the hyperrealism of Sam Jinks, without retreating to historical narrative?
Chaos & Order therefore embraces the contradictions inherent in the collection, and dispenses with the restrictive dictates of art historical, technical or stylistic categories. Instead, it suggests new relationships based on visual, poetic, thematic, and emotional resonance and dissonance.
Chaos & Order has been produced in collaboration between RMIT Gallery and students from the RMIT MA Arts Management program.
Featuring artists including: Tate ADAMS, Howard ARKLEY, Khadim ALI, Hannah BERTRAM, Peter BOOTH, Polly BORLAND, Godwin BRADBEER, Rupert BUNNY, Penny BYRNE, Maria Fernanda CARDOSO, Peter CLARKE, Michael COOK, Len CRAWFORD, Daniel CROOKS, Craig EASTON, Peter ELLIS, Craig EMMERSON, Juan FORD, Hayden FOWLER, Len FRENCH, Sally GABORI, Bill HENSON, Petr HEREL, Clare HUMPHRIES, Robert HUNTER, Robert JACKS, Sam JINKS, George JOHNSON, Roger KEMP, Inge KING, Grahame KING, Juz KITSON, Grace Lillian LEE, Jenny LOFT, Helen MAUDSLEY, Nick MOURTZAKIS, Trevor NICKOLLS, Jill ORR, Polixeni PAPAPETROU, Susan PHILIPSZ, Anthony PRYOR, Reko RENNIE, Yhonnie SCARCE, Greg SEMU, Jan SENBERGS, Christian THOMPSON, Kawita VATANAJYANKUR, Ah XIAN