CV

4th March – 21 March

Opening night drinks and nibbles with the artist
6 – 8 pm Wed March 4
All welcome

Glass sculpture is an unlikely medium to choose as a vehicle for cultural commentary. Andrew Lavery utilises this medium, which is more usually associated with vessels for his latest exhibition.
The ‘Emerald City’  is a fictional city built of green glass, emeralds and other jewels at the end of the yellow brick road in the Land of Oz. It is the name given to the satirical play about Sydney hedonism by David Williamson. Materialism, escapism and envy are also implicit in the objects. Manufactured sheet glass and bottles from well-known beer and soft drink companies are reworked to focus on the icons of a bloke’s life in the hedonistic harbour city of Sydney; beer, football, surf and skateboarding. The artist’s choice of medium accentuates the lure and fragility of play and the vulnerability of its participants.

Mick & Shane, made from beer bottles sprouting glass football-shaped brains alludes to the cults of sport and larrikinism. Like a group of blokes standing around a pedestal table at the pub, A Gathering of King Browns also reflects this aspect of Sydney culture. The text on the labels and in the tasting notes on the back of the bottles sets the scene for the trio of characters typified by the reworked beer bottles  Our dubious roots as convicts, the historical love and power of alcohol is told through reference to the Rum Corp and our obsession with sport. The Aussie larrikin image and the shallow, materially focused individual are summed up in this diorama of Sydney culture.

Mick and Shane_ 2008
Recycled beer bottle glass and adhesive paper
50 x 20 x 45 cm