Callum Morton
Farnshaven, Illinois, 2001
Digital print
Image: 54 x 83.5 cm
Represented by Anna Schwartz Gallery, Melbourne
and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney
Artbank e-bulletin - June 2007
Australian artists
at the Venice Biennale
It’s that time again. Every two years in Venice, fortunate art lovers get to enjoy one of the world’s best contemporary art experiences. This year, a lucky coincidence has given rise to a modern day grand tour. Art lovers can visit the Venice Biennale; Art Basel in Switzerland and in Germany Documenta 12 and the Münster Sculpture Project.
In Venice, the contingent of Australian artists is a strong one. Daniel von Sturmer has produced a video installation designed especially for the Australian Pavilion; Susan Norrie presents an immersive work at Fondazione Levi; and outside at Palazzo Zenobio, Callum Morton has built a large-scale replica of his family home—transformed into a ruin.
Robert Storr, the Biennale’s Artistic Director has invited three more Australian artists—Rosemary Laing, Shaun Gladwell and
Christian Capurro—to participate in his thematic group exhibition Think with the Senses – Feel with the Mind: Art in the Present Tense.
Artbank has a number of striking works by these artists. Susan Norrie, in addition to being an accomplished video installation artist, is a painter extraordinaire—a virtuoso of seductive oily surfaces and sublime excess. Artbank has procured several of her works including Untitled (from vis-à-vis) (1987–1991).
Since Artbank’s purchase of Callum Morton’s work Farnshaven, Illinois (2001) he has become one of Australia’s most dynamic and collectable artists. Based in Melbourne, Morton has worked with modernist inspired models and digital prints (such as the one illustrated in this bulletin) and large-scale architecturally-based installations. His recent international exhibitions include Zacheta National Gallery of Art, Poland in 2006 and Triennale India 2004—where he represented Australia.
Also in the Artbank collection is Rosemary Laing’s From PARADISE work (1990). This was Laing’s first work to be purchased for a public collection, and we later acquired four of her key works, including flight research #5 (2000), which is currently touring the nation in our 25th Anniversary exhibition.
Shaun Gladwell’s photographic work Overlooking the Lake, from the MMXBREAKLESS SESSIONS series, purchased by Artbank in 2005, is an elegant take on the urban Australian landscape and a fine example by this young artist who is gaining international recognition.
Australian video art
Video art, like Daniel von Sturmer’s elegant projections, is being produced by some of the most talented and exciting artists at the cutting edge of contemporary art practice.
As part of our Charter, Artbank is keen to support these artists and their work. Please contact us and to discuss the exciting option of video art in your premises.
Geoffrey Cassidy, Artbank Director, June 2007
