KARA BALDWIN
FISHES OF AUSTRALIA (2016 – 17)
09 Aug 2017—26 Aug 2017
Fishes of Australia is a large scale pictorial list of tropical fish considered commercially important to Australia. Both a tongue and cheek jab at the decorative imagery portrayed in fish and chipperys nationwide, and a question of capitalist venture; how fish become a currency in a global market despite residing outside of physical land boundaries. The fine detailed imagery, larger-than-life scale and accompanying text list provide identification and information whilst being in basic terms- portraiture of dead animals on display defined by their monetary value. Also, most of them are delicious, although that is entirely personal preference.
Kara Baldwin is an emerging artist from Melbourne, Australia. Graduating from Monash University in 2014, she has since exhibited with PICA as part of the annual HATCHED graduate exhibition 2015, in the Royal Exhibition Building for the Supergraph Annual Art and Design Fair installation award 2015, and on the floor of a local bar (amongst other places). Her work involves video sequence, drawing, installations and commonplace objects, exploring themes of humour, absurdity and anxiety to critique and question accepted societal rules and individual expression. Through disruption and incongruous action, her work aims to deviate roles of objects and routines; an exchange of power through transgressive action.
This exhibition is part of TCB’s Prolegomenon series supported by the City of Melbourne’s Arts Grants Program, Creative Victoria and Hells Kitchen, which encourages intergenerational exchange between emerging and established artist.