eX de Medici - DOUBLE CROSSED - 6-30 May 2021

eX de Medici's extraordinary work examines concepts of power through violence, geo-economic politics and environment. Created in her Canberra studio over lockdown, this exhibition presents eX's newest series of detailed watercolours of hybridised moths and weaponry. These intriguing and powerful works are inspired by the field work of Dr Marianne Horak in New Guinea in 1973, a scientist who collects micro moths, many of which remain unclassified. eX says of this exhibition All of the species group in DOUBLE CROSSED' are unclassified but known as subspecies of the micro Lepidoptera superfamily, Tortricidae. In my mind, I call this subspecies Eyes of Buddha' as the forewing pattern has a remarkable simulacrum to the Tibetan Thanka painting tradition of the depiction of the deity's eyes. The juxtaposition of weapons with these images of natural beauty continues eX's study into the divide between two sciences; one devoted to the preservation of life on our planet and the other bent towards the destruction of the world through the advancement of human industry and greed. Mesmerisingly beautiful, eX's moths are deceptively complex, beguiling us with questions about violence, corruption and human ego. This exhibition runs alongside that of artist friend and collaborator, Wei Rong Wu. This is eX's first commercial gallery show in Canberra since 2003.

eX de Medici has exhibited extensively in Australia and internationally and is a regular participant in national and international awards. In 2002, she won the National Works on Paper prize and was selected as a finalist in the Dobell Prize for Drawing (2002), the National Self-Portrait Prize (2013 and 2015) and the Singapore Art Prize (2014.). In 2009, eX was selected for the prestigious Artist in War program (Solomon Islands Peace Keeping mission) for the Australian War Memorial. She has worked on a number of commissions including a portrait of Midnight Oil for the National Portrait Gallery in 2001 and Shotgun Wedding Dress for the National Gallery of Australia in 2015. In 2020, eX had a solo survey exhibition at the Wollongong Regional Gallery and was included as one of fifteen contemporary Australian artists in Full Face' at the Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane. eX has been included in the Know My Name' exhibition at the National Gallery of Australia from 2020-21. Her works are represented in many significant collections including the National Gallery of Australia, National Gallery of Victoria, Art Gallery of New South Wales, National Portrait Gallery, Queensland Art Gallery and the Australian War Memorial.