Providing a platform for the cross-pollination of ideas across the fields of textiles, contemporary art and fashion, Fabrik: minimalist and conceptual approaches to textiles is a multi-venue exhibition being held as part of the Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival Cultural Program.
The word ‘fabrik’ translates from German as ‘workshop’, and refers to the tendency of the featured artists to address both materials and methods of production in their work. Whether scrunched, snipped, draped, ironed, ripped or threaded, the artworks reveal a strong emphasis on the artists’ physical engagement with textiles. By extension, the exhibition prompts consideration of our own daily interactions with fabric.
Conceived by Sarah crowEST and curated by Jane O’Neill, Fabrik features a selection of new and existing works from emerging, mid-career and established artists from Australia and overseas including John Barbour, Clementine Barnes, Sarah crowEST, Christine Dean, ADS Donaldson, Mikala Dwyer, David Egan, Andreas Exner, Dana Harris, Louise Haselton, Mark McDean, Elizabeth Newman, Michelle Nikou, Rose Nolan, Virginia OVerell, Janet Passehl, Elizabeth Pulie, Stuart Ringolt, Robert Rooney, Kate Sylvester, Lyndal Walker, Jenny Watson, and Heimo Zobernig.
Fabrik: minimalist and conceptual approaches to textiles
The Ian Potter Museum of Art – The University of Melbourne, Swanston Street, Parkville
Exhibition continues to 22 May 2016
Free admission
Margaret Lawrence Gallery – Victorian College of the Arts, 40 Dodds Street, Southbank
Exhibition continues to 2 April 2016
Free admission
Sutton Project Space – Sutton Gallery, 254 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
Exhibition continues to 12 March
Free admission
For more information, visit: www.art-museum.unimelb.edu.au , www.vca.unimelb.edu.au or www,suttongallery.com.au for details.
Image: David Egan, Untitled (hammock), 2013, raincoat, green screen material, gold rope, dimensions variable, © Courtesy the artist.