A major survey exhibition of painting, photography and film by leading Australian artist David Griggs has opened at the Bunjil Place Gallery and is on display until 1 December 2019. The exhibition, Between Nature and Sin features a decade of past paintings, photographs, videos, and the premiere of Cowboy Country, David Griggs’ first feature film.
David Griggs explores the darker undercurrents of human existence. His work, predominantly portraiture, focuses on the human condition; drawing on political imagery, underground media, local histories and personal experience. Famous for his bold approach, Griggs exposes the raw underbelly of society.
His work is often collaborative, engaging directly with communities while remaining sensitive to the ethical and moral obligations this demands. For the last 10 years Griggs has resided in the Philippines and has created a significant body of work that reveals the social hierarchies and underground culture of his adopted home.
Megan Monte, Curator of the exhibition says: “Manila has challenged, broken and rebuilt Griggs in countless ways, as have his collaborations,” says Curator Megan Monte. “This is encapsulated in the series of work presented in Between Nature and Sin, Griggs’ most ambitious and challenging project to date.”
David Griggs’ examination of the issues that affect his adopted home of the Philippines continues in the major feature film Cowboy Country presented for the first time. The film follows the story of a kidnapped American Filipino teenage held captive for ransom and is produced collaboratively with the community. Set in a fishing village of one of the Philippines’ remote islands, the film features leading Filipino actors Soliman Cruz, the late Dante Perez and Melanie Tejano.
Born in Sydney in 1975, Griggs has studios in both Sydney and Manila, where he has worked on-and-off for 10 years. He was a finalist in the 2007, 2009, 2013, 2014 and 2017 Archibald Prizes. He has a Master of Fine Arts (Sculpture) from UNSW Art + Design and a Bachelor of Visual Art (Painting) from Sydney College of the Arts, University of Sydney.
He has exhibited extensively throughout Australia and South East Asia, including the Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane, Artspace, Sydney, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Heide Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne and Manila Contemporary.
He has received numerous accolades for his work including the Freedman Foundation Travelling Scholarship for Emerging Artists in 2003, the Willoughby City Art Prize in 2001 and the Sir William Dobell Art Scholarship in 1997. His work is held by the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane; Museum of Contemporary Art, Australia; University of Queensland and Museum of Art and Applied Science.
David Griggs: Between Nature and Sin
Bunjil Place Gallery, 2 Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren
Exhibition continues to 1 December 2019
Free entry
For more information, visit: www.bunjilplace.com.au for details.
Image: David Griggs, Zoloft Nation (self-portrait), 2009 (detail) acrylic on canvas, 282 x 232cm. – courtesy of Germanos Collection, Sydney
Note: A number of works included in this exhibition contain graphic content, scenes of violence, nudity and/or coarse language. Viewer discretion is advised.