Sunday 13 May 2012

Toby POLA – ‘life sux then you die’


This first solo show by artist Toby Pola has taken a page of Australian skate culture as inspiration for these set of sculptures. Life size objects that are made out of balsa wood and then painted in gouache. The raw and rogue artist picked up were a young Ricky Swallow left off. This artist is in his own element, which is refreshing and original. Skate clothes such as t-shirts, hoddies and caps in dispersed between plaster casts (balsa wood made) that are reflective of the 1980’s.

Life Be In It was a carved piece made into a hanging t-shirt with the painted iconic inflated Norm sitting in a chair watching television. No more needs to be said. There was also Suffer cunt which was a plaster cast with graffiti written over it with various familiar texts. The feelings of freedom, stupidity and youth injected with humor.

Overall, this exhibition didn’t need explanation as the objects themselves were clear in its context. The pieces were reflective of a genre and had a subtle reminiscence.

Exhibition has ended but look out for future work. 

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