The latest work of the Greek Australian artist Gina Kalabishis, entitled Melbourne Meadow, is now exhibited as part of the ‘Celebrating 25 years’ exhibition at Flinders Lane Gallery, on display until 4 October.
Twenty-five years and over 500 curated exhibitions later, Flinders Lane Gallery is determined to celebrate the remarkable milestone with an exhibition that pays respect to the incredible city of Melbourne, which has actively supported and nurtured Australian artists for so long.
Represented artists have created an artwork specifically for the exhibition, based around the curatorial premise of representing Melbourne, and what it means to each individual artist. The responses are varied and rich.
“A surrealist ikebana arrangement, fluently emerging and creating a relationship with the human body is expressed as vertebrae and organic forms in motion. The vessel of the arrangement is an image of human vertebrae, which symbolises the backbone of Melbourne. The sensual curve of the spine aesthetically addresses William Hogarth’s Line of Beauty, a term in art theory and aesthetics used to describe an S-shaped line,” artist Gina Kalabishis said.
“Sprouting from the pelvic bone, the native flora is a riot of movement and rhythm, flowing wildly yet gracefully and taking the ride like a long ecstatic breath. The whole arrangement acts as a musical and visual symphony, a see-sawing breath of people sharing my life’s journey.”
The title of Kalabishis’ work to be showcased at the exhibition pays respect to the City of Melbourne’s ‘urban meadow’ experiment, situated adjacent to Birrarung Marr.
Kalabishis, who lives and works in Melbourne, has featured in solo and group exhibitions in Australia, Spain and America and has been selected for a number of significant national art prizes. In 2014, Kalabishis was awarded the prestigious Rick Amor Drawing Prize from a field of over 450 submissions.
The exhibition at Flinders Lane Gallery will also feature the work of another Greek Australian artist, Zac Koukoravas.
The exhibition is on at Flinders Lane Gallery from 16 September to 4 October. For more information, visit www.flg.com.au/exhibition/celebrating-25-years or www.ginakalabishis.com