Marcel Cousins is our mid-year Artist in Residence, from Melbourne, proudly sponsored by the Turner Galleries Art Angels and the Central Institute of Technology.
His paintings and sculptures have been described as being "graphic, lucid mental snapshots of a cool exoticism."*
Marcel's exhibition, Exploded Diagram, brings together a series of works that on first encounter may seem disconnected and unrelated. But like an exploded diagram the works stand alone as individual components serving a distinct function that when displayed as a whole, form a network of interconnected elements.
He uses a variety of methods to create his technically sophisticated and visually beautiful works, including airbrushing, traditional painting techniques, laser cut acrylic, and sculptures in resin and fibreglass. He is inspired by popular culture, consumerism and a certain Japanese aesthetic; including their design sensibilities, attention to detail and a ceremonial slowing down and looking closely at the world. This is not surprising, as Marcel has spent several years living and studying in Japan, culminating in a Doctorate of Philosophy [Fine Art] from the Tama Art University in Tokyo in 2011. His earlier studies in printmaking and graphic design have also had a resounding impact on his work.
Marcel stated about his exhibition; "Particular focus is made on the way developments in technology have affected the way we as human beings, codify the world around us and the signs, symbols and the environments we inhabit. More importantly, what impact these systems have on the way we see the world and the role we play in it. This is explored with a particular focus on perceptions in the media, systems of language, semiotics, ideas of appropriation and how they influence ideas of cultural identity, social structures, power systems, perceptions of the landscape and representations of reality."
His focus on small details from everyday life manifests itself in unexpected ways. Several paintings from the exhibition, including Lotus Flower, Untitled portrait, Gorge with atmospheric fog moving in, and Glitch all feature designs from banknotes. Glitch is particularly spectacular, not just in terms of its sheer scale (measuring over 6m in length) but also in the sheer virtuosity and technical skill involved in airbrushing these intricate patterns by hand. A series of circular target shaped paintings are far more than abstract paintings. They can be read as the formalisation of the colours and emotions that a Fading sunset over cliff top or Dancing daffodil may evoke.
Marcel acknowledges that people bring their own knowledge and memories when viewing artworks and enjoys that each viewer will find something different in his exhibition to respond to, whether it is in a scale model of a plastic toy German soldier melting into a puddle, or a replicated set of Storage King boxes. As he states: "The work sets out to provoke thought, rather than be a definitive cultural statement. When viewed in a variety of contexts both physically and philosophically, the work serves as a departure point that will hopefully encourage discussion and debate instead of providing a definitive point of view."
*Quote is from the essay Marcel Cousins by Dr Ken Wach, Assoc. Prof. School of Creative Arts, University of Melbourne.
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- TURNER GALLERIES | showcasing contemporary art
at 470 WILLIAM STREET NORTHBRIDGE WESTERN AUSTRALIA 6003 - TURNER GALLERIES HAS NOW CLOSED.
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