Craig Cole
Courtesy of the artist
This latest solo exhibition
by artist Craig Cole is a set of polished concrete pieces that have been illustrated
with oil paint. Each piece has a scene of an infamous character of Footscray
set among the familiar urban landscape. The detail is impressive with each
block of concrete standing at 10 x 30 cms. The pieces are well curated, framed
on custom made shelves positioned at eye level giving each room to breathe.
Cole has obviously made
himself familiar with these characters over a period of time. Each are
oblivious to his attention and continue with their daily lives which may
involve collecting trollies, asking for a cigarette to a passer-by or waiting
for a bus. These are the people who are unaccounted for that is, outside mainstream
society. They exist by other means of distribution and are more familiar to
their community than say you or me.
Cole has executed their
existence skilfully. A photographic snapshot of people on the peripheral of
society. Using their own ways of survival instinctive of the human spirit. They
may limp, wear clothes that are irregular, scream when it’s not appropriate or
simply feed pigeons for pleasure when they can’t afford food for themselves.
The raw and complicated painted on polished cold concrete gives warmth and a
sense of direction of each piece.
On until the 10th
of June.
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