Hey all, got an exhibition coming up next week - anyone in melb?

“The Totem Project”
Recent work by James Tapscott
23.7.08 – 9.8.08
@ Shifted Gallery
Lvl 1, 15 Albert Street, Richmond
GALLERY HOURS Wednesday to Saturday 11.00AM to 5.00PM
[link]
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James Tapscott’s third solo exhibition in Melbourne explores a more ephemeral, transient and even non-objective way of creating and experiencing art. After recent visits to California where he attended exhibitions and lectures by ground-breaking American artist Robert Irwin, and Olafur Eliasson’s massive survey at the SFMOMA, James was compelled to break away from over a decade of studio practice and step into a new way of working in and indeed seeing the world.
Making a striking departure from painting, towards a more non-objective field of art, Tapscott’s new artwork, “The Totem Project” seeks to create a profound phenomenological experience for the viewer that encourages them to connect to the environment around them and to highlight the diversity of Australia’s environment, its incredible beauty and the problems it faces today and in the future. The Totem itself is a transient column of light that has so far been installed in five different locations around Victoria. Although it appears futuristic, it references, both visually and conceptually, ancient totems created by native people as a sign of respect and remembrance of helpful, watchful entities. Employing a simple, elegant aesthetic, the piece encourages the viewer to look more around it than at it, and around themselves – considering the significance of the space in light of this mysterious marker.
The artwork itself resides more in the realm of time than in space, adding weight to the notion that the art is in the experience, not the object. The exhibition comprises of large photographic prints of the Totem, taken on each of the installations. A limited edition book documenting the project and the experiences of the people involved will also be available.

Enquiries can be made to the artist at

James@paper-st-art.com
0431 641 313