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Return of the dancing sausages

The highly successful travelling exhibition "RetroMOMENTS" by local artist Colin Suggett has returned home to Latrobe Regional Gallery, concluding a 2-year tour of museums and galleries both in Victoria and interstate.

By Latrobe City Council - 28th October 2003 - Back to News

Latrobe City’s Manager Arts, Paul Holton said that Suggett’s unique sculptures are on display now until 16 November.

"When ‘Hawaiian Sausages’ is on display there is always a positive audience response. Colin has a fantastic sense of humour and wit. To be able to offer humour, meaning and insight in a sculptural work indicates an ingenious and imaginative mind at work," Mr Holton said.

Mr Holton said Colin Suggett was Australia’s leading artist creating moving sculpture.

"Works include dancing sausages, Australian map white goods that blow hot air, levitating video monitor with clap sticks, real estate vacant house blocks that go for as far as the eye can see and miniature tycoons breathing their last gasp.

"Suggett uses the gamut of new materials and technology available. He has created a theatrical and often humorous body of work based on his responses to prevailing social and political events. Audiences will be treated to a range of mechanically ingenious works that comment on the ‘trial and error’ nature of socio-political change in the latter quarter of the 20th century," Mr Holton explained.

"His work ‘Fear of Flying’ is a reference to and a protest against the terrorist hijackings of the 1980s, ‘Zit Wars’ arose from fear of President Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative, and ‘The Oh No Zone’ was created at a time when global warming was mere speculation," Mr Holton said.

Mr Holton added that a new work would be added to the exhibition, providing the regional art community an exclusive first view of the piece - 'Forked Tie' 2003.

"This is the first time the whole collection which is now owned by Latrobe Regional Gallery has been shown in its 'home' space. However, it is not necessarily the end of touring. The show, which has a catalogue and a web site (www.suggett.com.au) is 'packaged' for travel and can be sent to any gallery that requests it," Mr Holton concluded.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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