I started sculpting in 1989 following a dream which showed me the method of creating the sculpture which I still employ with my present works. At first I mainly produced angels but later I explored other myths and concepts. Some of these I keep returning to because there is a worthwhile variation I would like to try, or the idea has a lot of response from people. I find inspiration or motivation in other art forms such as painting or music from everyday occurrences.
Artist Book
Download the exhibition catalogue as a .pdf file
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Medium quality 20MB
Low quality, small file size 11MB
Image
Orpheus and Eurydice 2007
Exhibitions
Myer Blaxland, a group exhibition called ‘Art Angels’, 23 November – 29 December 1990.
‘Turn But A Stone’ with Christine Ford at Alchemy Gallery, 26 January – February 14 1991. ( this exhibition went on to Monash Library Gallery.)
‘Vessels and Journeys’ at Magic Box 26 June – 9 July 1994
News Paper Articles
Angels Spread Wings – click to view
Angels holy, high and lowly – click to view
Of Interest
Review of Absence by Hiromi Tango
Hiromi Tango was setting up her window installation Absence on the 30th of April in the Flinders St Station subway. I was heading for the Degraves St exit when I saw Hiromi in the window arranging her exhibit. I stopped briefly, curious as to what it was about, then automatically started to walk on as you tend to do in subways. Suddenly I stopped and knocked on the metal door of the display window. Hiromi invited me in to the confined space of the window and I had to negotiate a web of pink and yellow wool rising from milk crates to various points on the ceiling. She made sure I was comfortable as we talked about various topics. The idea behind Absence was to get stories and comments from people passing by. Some stories were of great length while other were on small coloured stick its. I had lost track of time in the window and realized I had a train to catch. I told Hiromi I would bring material she could use for the window and asked her if I could sketch her work next week and she said ok. When I came to do the sketch I brought a folding chair. The sketch took about three hours to complete and in that time I observed the parade of people drawn to the window. The reactions of the people varied. There was a lot of wonder and enthusiastic responses to Hiromi’s written invitation for people to share their stories. Though some were reluctant or too shy, many of them talked to Hiromi about the installation and she treated everyone equally, listening and giving each one as much time and attention as possible while also attending to the setting up of the window. Each piece of paper represented a person or a fragment of their lives. In amongst the silly notes or obscenities there were tracts of poetry, esoteric ramblings and quite a few poignant statements. There were declarations from people with compulsive behaviour to turn over a new leaf or others stated their intention to leave someone who was “dragging them down”. There was wisdom from people who had lived hard lives and survived with their humour intact. For many the opportunity to externalise these pent up feelings provided a much needed catharsis. Hiromi collected these notes and stories and hand stitched them into books, raggedly beautiful volumes, containing a wide range of emotional and intellectual aspects of human beings. When Hiromi first started the window I went inside to view the subway and to do this I had to crawl under her web of pink and yellow wool, which must have looked strange to people outside. I remarked to Hiromi that it was like being a child again. The true value and benefit to be gained from experiencing Absence is from not being self-conscious, letting down your guard and allowing it to happen. People subconsciously put up barriers which make it difficult when it comes to connecting on some level with other people. The respect which Hiromi showed towards the people and their stories made it easy for people to be more open. Also the ego of the artist didn’t impinge on the creative input by those contributing to Absence, making it a unique collaborative artwork. Absence by Hiromi Tango will be remembered by many as one of the most engaging and rewarding exhibitions of 2008. Reviewed by Mario Fenech 7/6/08
Books
Cosmicomics by Italo Calvino
The Tao of Physics by Frijof Capra
Music
Lux Aeterna by Gyorgy Ligeti
Phaedra by Tangerine Dream
