Announcing Twigg’s Sydney Return

27 April – 22 May 2010

Tony Twigg has not shown in Australia since 2004.  That five years has kept him in Asia, with 9 solo exhibitions in Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines, commissions and a book - it is a long awaited homecoming for Sydney collectors. Titled “Ricochet” the exhibition will be presented by Damien Minton Gallery and aptly describes the bounce of Twigg’s practice between Asia and Australia, compressing, if you like, our conventional definitions of this region into a single visual expression.  It is an unfaltering engagement.

The exhibition moves between intimate constructions and lofty free-standing sculptures that speak to the warehouse architecture of the gallery and Twigg’s outdoor installations. In recent years Twigg has been particularly interested in the way a circle can be divided into vertical units and expanded, offering a play of spatial energy between positive and negative form.  “Ricochet” considers the foundation to that visual language which has become signature to Twigg’s work, by presenting current works alongside earlier considerations. It is an extremely interesting process of self-observation from a position in Asian.

Damien Minton Gallery is located at 61 Greater Buckingham Street, Redfern (Sydney).

www.damienmintongallery.com.au 

Twigg, Fairweather and Roti

Ian Fairweather is surrounded by mythology and not least his raft journey to Roti, which was a pivotal moment in his career.  Continuing his research on Fairweather’s journeys in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines and Bali, Tony joined the Sri Noa Noa for a seven-day sea voyage to find Fairweather’s landing place. It was a remarkable journey and one that Tony will be sharing in a future publication [to be confirmed].

Click for more images …

http://www.cruisebali.com/

Peninsular and Island

When Tony was last in Singapore he spoke to WPO [World Presidents Organization] for the launch of TAKSU Singapore’s new ground floor gallery. Chef Manju – a well know in Malaysia for her Northern Indian cuisine, made the trip to Singapore to cater for the event.  The dinner coincided with the opening weekend of ARTSingapore where Tony’s work was presented by TAKSU.

Click to read Tony’s talk on working in Asia PDF [70 Kb] 

Twigg turning to bronze

Tony has long wanted to expand his practice to metal. His first foray was a gate in Pasay City – now he turns his hand to bronze. During his recent trip to Manila [September 2009] Tony started that process rolling working with a local foundary – actually the oldest foundary in Manila. Working from a construction made with local timbers, the textured slats will be cast in wax, reassembled and re-cast using the lost-wax process.  The bronzes will be completed when Tony returns to Manila late 2010 for his exhibition with Galleria Duemila.

“Through-way” travels from Sydney to Manila

Twigg participated in the exhibition “Beyond Frame: Philippine Photomedia” with a site-specific satellite installation at SLOT in November 2008. It was the first time Tony’s photographs have been exhibited [see slot exhibitions]. The exhibition travelled to the Ateneo Art Gallery in Manila where Tony made a version of the piece working with local found timbers. It was a stunning work in the exhibition, wedged ceiling to floor.  It remains on show October 2009 through January 2010.

Click for more images…

“Tony Twigg:  Encountering the Object”

A 94-page full colour book on Tony’s work is currently on the drawing board to be released with solo exhibitions in Australia, Malaysia and Singapore in 2009. Published out of Malaysia with the assistance of a grant from the Australian-Malaysian Institute, the book takes a look at Tony’s engagement with the found object from the Philippines, to Malaysia to Singapore.  With essays by Indesign editor and architecture / design writer Paul McGillick, Malaysian artist and writer Sharon Chin, and an essay by Gina Fairley contextualising Tony’s work across these three locations it a stimulating look at Tony’s 15-year engagement with this region.  It is a superb publication that oscillates between a conventional monograph and an artists’ reproducing source images, sketches and Tony’s most recent work.

Click for more & where you can buy your copy

KL residency and two solo exhibitions for 2009

Tony returns to Kuala Lumpur in 2009 for a 3-month residency at TARP, the residential program of TAKSU.  Tony will produce on a new body of drawings that will be exhibited with TAKSU Kuala Lumpur in August 2009. 

Click for residency images…

Twigg at ARTSingapore again

Other projects on the horizon

Tony’s recent visit to the Philippines saw him continuing his research into Ian Fairweather’s time spent in Manila, Davao and Manicahan during the 1930’s.  This trip took Tony to Davao to correlate references in Fairweather’s unpublished letters with what remains of the city. and Piapi where he lived.  Tony was recently part of the ABC Television production “Fairweather Man” screened late 2008, looking into the life of this fascinating artist.

Twigg in the Bencab Museum

Twigg’s construction “Five Sticks; Five Pairs” (2008) was purchased by the Bencab Museum from his recent Manila exhibition “Standing Sticks” at Galeria Duemila.  Located in the Mountain Provinces and a short drive from the regional centre of Baguio, the Bencab Museum, which is currently under construction and is due to open early 2009.

Click for images ….

Twigg shows in Hong Kong

We are delighted to announced that Tony Twigg has been included in a group exhibition in Hong Kong with Cat Street Gallery in Sheung Wan district. Steered by directors Mandy d’Abo and Kate Bryan, while operating for some years, the gallery has recently relocated into a superb street-fronted gallery.

For more on Tony’s work you can read recent feature articles on his work in Jamini (Bangladesh), a review of his last show in Art Asia Pacific (New York) and a feature article in the September 2008 issue of Asian Art News (Hong Kong) all posted on Slot views, on this site.