2012 COLLABORATION by ANNA REYNOLDS & FIONA MORRISON
DARWIN FESTIVAL
Reconstructed Empires – a collaboration by Fiona Morrison and Anna Reynolds begins to unravel the mysteries of China with large digital composite images. This project began in Beijing at the 24Hr Art International Studio Residency in 2011. At the time both artists lived and practiced in the Northern Territory, Australia.
Stylistically the two artists differ greatly prior to this collaboration Morrison’s approach is pure photography while Reynolds has utilised methods of collage to create photographic composites well before the use of digital imaging - both artists’ practices are concerned with themes of habitat realised through images of urbanity, climatic and architectural appropriateness in development and the surrounding environment.
The unique perspective these two Territory artists offer seeks critical engagement and positioning within a global framework. Intrigued by China’s reputation of monument and scale, of population and production, it is the people within the landscape that has caught their attention. Together they choose to include the human face of China framed in the urban and built environment, hinting at symbols of the global human condition through the all-encompassing landscape.
The process of art production while absorbed in foreign customs, culture and language provides a fascinating canvas. The merging of two distinct individual aesthetics onto this canvas has produced an experimental body of work that reflects their short time spent immersed in the exotic. Such a brief encounter only serves as a starting point for both artists who acknowledge the vast complexity and richness of Chinese culture and all it has to offer.
CHINA
2good dogs is the moniker of Australian artists Fiona Morrison and Anna Reynolds’s current collaborative project that begins to unravel the mysteries of China and the Gigapan. The project has taken place during their 8-week residency at the 24Hr Art International Studio Residency in Huantie Art City, Beijing. Both artists live and practice in the Northern Territory, an isolated area of Australia with a total landmass of 1,346,200 km2 and a sparse population of approximately 230,000. Their partnership has been formed through the sharing of a common geography and a similar creative agenda.
The unique perspective these remote artists bring to China focuses on symbols of the global human condition found in the urban and built environment. Intrigued by China’s reputation of monument and scale, of population and production, it is the people within a landscape that has caught their attention.
An exhibition of the work was shown at Beijing’s Huantie Art Times Museum in November. This is the outcome of their 8-week residency initiated by the Northern Territory Centre for Contemporary Art; 24HrArt and Asialink. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body, Arts NT and Darwin Visual Arts Association.
Anna Reynolds is a diverse visual artist whose practice includes commissions, exhibition, teaching and community projects. This year she has enjoyed international residencies and exhibiting experience in 4 countries. Her creative practice is influenced by issues of globalisation and can be positioned in the Alter Modern.
Fiona Morrison MA (visual art) has extensive experience as a professional photographer and has lectured in photography at Charles Darwin University, Australia. Predominantly shooting at night time, Morrison’s creative practice is concerned with the built environment and highlights uninhabited urban scapes.
Stylistically though the two differ greatly - Morrison’s approach is pure photography while Reynolds’s utilises digital post-production to create photographic composites - both artist’s practices are concerned with themes of habitat realised through images of urbanity, climatic and architectural appropriateness in development and the surrounding environment. The unique perspective these two remote artists offer seeks critical engagement and positioning within a global framework. Intrigued by Chinas reputation of monument and scale, of population and production, it is the people within the landscape that has caught their attention. Together they choose to include the human face of China framed in the urban and built environment, hinting at symbols of the global human condition through the all-encompassing landscape. This suite of digital prints has been made during their 8 week residency, which in many ways has been a challenging collaboration for both artists. The process of art production while absorbed in foreign customs, culture and language provides a fascinating canvas. The merging of two distinct individual aesthetics onto this canvas has produced an experimental body of work that reflects their brief time spent immersed in the exotic. Such a brief encounter only serves as a starting point for both artists who acknowledge the vast complexity and richness of Chinese culture and all it has to offer. Working and exhibiting in China gives these two emerging artists an important opportunity to showcase their work in a significant art community far from their remote location. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body, Arts NT and Darwin Visual Arts Association. Art Notes Beijing China -written by Reg Newitt
BACKGROUND/CONTEXT
The first exhibition held in China was titled 2 good dogs – the debut collaboration of Fiona Morrison and Anna Reynolds. This name has been changed to Reconstructed Empires for the 2012 Darwin Festival and Museum and Art Gallery Northern Territory exhibition
The duration of the show in China was 10 days, It was exhibited at Huantie Times Art Museum and Art Gallery in Beijing, China
The collaboration of Fiona Morrison and Anna Reynolds evolved through similar creative agendas as well as a common geography. Their practices have been concerned with themes of habitat realized through images of urbanity, climatic and architectural appropriateness in development and the surrounding environment. This was expanded on during the project
The residency was a 24HRArt initiative in partnership with Asialink
The residency went for 2 months in 2011 during October/November.
The project received funding from both
Arts NT, Arts Development grant and The Australia Council of the Arts, New Work -emerging artists