Opening Exhibition at Blackcat Gallery, Collingwood

Gallery 1 : Stilled Life - Martin Tighe

A few years ago I stayed in a hotel in Berlin. Across the lane way at the rear of the build stood and apartment building. Each evening residents of the apartments would arrive home and begin preparing meals. As I watched these people going about their lives I began to become aware of the cinematic qualities of the scenes I was seeing

This series of paintings permits the viewer to engage in incidental voyeurism as the observe people in their private worlds.

A figure in a window at night is highlighted and will always attract attention. Lit from within, the images are naturally framed by the black surround, making the subject even more striking.

Gallery 2 : To the table - Sarah Randall

This series portrays common ingredients that are found in people's everyday lives. These Still Life paintings considers how food is presented as an object of experience and desire. It is what bring people together to the table, to share in each other's company. These humble everyday objects provides a way through which we can understand one another, and speak collectively to the notion of communion.

Gallery 3 : We are all the same - Supansa Thongsuk

Why apples?

What do you think differentiates each apple? The Look, shape, colour, type, what else? The eaten apples in my paintings were from me, and a Brazilian person, an Australian person, a New Zealander, a Chinese person, a Japanese, Korean, Indian, Ecuadorian, Columbian, Mexican, British and a Ukrainian. All of which are my friends and new acquaintances.

Not only were these people quite different from each other in terms of their body, skin colour, and physical appearance, they also vary in culture, belief, and religion. But the one thing I have noticed that these individuals have in common is their hunger. In my recent journey overseas, I have encountered countless egocentric people who insist that their culture and language is high and above all others. This is expressed through discriminatory comments, attitude, and body language. This led me to the ultimate question "How am I so different from you?"

"If two different people supposedly cut themselves open, the same red blood would come flowing out of both humans."

I would propose instead that we turn our focus away from what separates us. Yes, we are all different and, essentially, we are all the same.