Title

Rob McHaffie: step out of character, become yourself.

Venues

Darren Knight Gallery [Sydney]. (1 August 2009 – 29 August 2009)

Date

(2009)

Summary

Single-artist exhibition. Located; Australia. Paintings, Drawings, Ceramics

Country of context

Australia

Abstract

Rob McHaffie recently spent some months living not far from Byron Bay in northern NSW, and has taken the title of the exhibition, Step out of character, become yourself, from amongst the quotes that adorn the walls of the Nimbin Museum. Since returning to Melbourne the artist has continued to incorporate these experiences of a relaxed ‘hippy’ lifestyle into the confessions and social observations which have come to characterise his practice. Elements of this folk sensibility – Willie Nelson, acoustic guitars, woven ponchos, nudity, natural outdoor settings, and references to vegetarianism are interspersed with contemporary versions of Picasso’s minotaur and cubist figures. These inhabit country houses and their domestic interiors alongside suggestions of soap operas and material aspiration. McHaffie has sought to portray “imagery of people entertaining themselves unplugged from technology, pursuing creative endeavours in these hand built houses surrounded by nature.” (Rob McHaffie, 2009). The exhibition will also include a number of portrait images which indicate a continuation of the artist’s established technique of contriving collaged subjects from porcelain models and magazine cut-outs. [Gallery media, 2009]