"Last Chance! Relics from Rustic Animations"
1999-07-23 until 1999-09-04
Silicon Pulp Animation Gallery
Stanmore, , AU Australia

Silicon Pulps fifth exhibition entitled Relics from Rustic Animations showcases the work of two of Australias most original and innovative animation artists, Bruce Currie and John Wilkinson. Both express the macabre in a humorous manner, juxtaposing everyday characters with weird and wonderful surrounds, or placing bizarre figures into familiar territories and contexts. As an indication of their relic status, both were represented in the 1988 Bicentennial Touring Exhibition.

Bruce Currie is an enigmatic entertainer - an actor, writer, director, producer, illustrator and animator. The folkloric nature of his stories and characters belies the polish and technical intricacy that Currie demands of his enterprises. The realism and accessibility of his characters give his work such depth and pathos that he must be considered one of our finest animators. As hip modernist illustrator and master of the hand-painted cel, he has now become a wizard of 3D computer technology, winning this years coveted Dendy short film award for his latest animation Love Song. Curries design and illustration work has graced the pages of Rolling Stone magazine, and best-selling books by Wendy Harmer and Red Symons. His vignettes were broadcast on SBS before and between Eat Carpet films, with long-time collaborator Paul Livingston (aka Flacco) providing a live-action foil to Curries animated forays. John Wilkinson exemplifies the professional ratbag art vandal, marauding through space and time, mutilating the works of masters such as Manet and re-animating in the cut and paste style of mentor Terry Gilliam. He creates humorous monsters and nightmare images, influences including Hieronymus Bosch, Max Ernst and The Temptation of St Anthony - a bit like Dali pumped up on steroids. Pilfered cut-outs, collage figures and backdrops, mixed media dioramas and stop-motion animation all become dangerous tools as he positions us in front of a peephole into the apocalypse. Wilkinsons animations have been used for documentaries and TV commercials, although he is probably best known for his music videos for bands such as Karma County, Mental As Anything and The Cruel Sea, and most recently his South Park-style opener for the 99 41st Logie Awards for Channel 9.

Related Links:

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