methusalem

francis upritchard has a small solo show on at ivan anthony at the moment. it is a good opportunity to see some of her latest work. this includes her figurines, "angry" and "day dreamer" -two particularly compelling examples. both have been mounted on small shelves on scratchy perhaps hessian-covered panels that extend from the gallery's empty door frames. one of these hessian "doors" is propped open by a small silver foot. "day dreamer" a sleeping man, levitates laterally wrapped in a blanket of found fabric. "angry" is poised cross-legged, partially pastel and plaid, part arlechina. hers is quite a graceful and plaintive anger, with one hand held to her shin, the other resting on her thigh, her head is up-tilted, eyes closed and mouth slightly grimaced. astonishing details include her tiny finger and toenails. additionally, up close one can see the imperfections of her painted surface and powdery fragments of paint.

the hessian doors resist upritchard's works being viewed against white walls, indeed the support structures of her work have always been carefully considered and constructed, whether they be found antiques or custom-made, pseudo-modernist furniture. here her supports are hessian doors, propped open with more of her small objects.

"methusaleh" is one of the oldest characters from the bible, "methusalem" evokes his kingdom, or the holy city of jerusalem, or the unholy one of salem. to exhibit art objects upon a door is a compelling idea, rather than art existing as a mimetic window, here it is placed upon an opening device, mimicking upritchard's uncanny ability to create partially synthetic and multiple realities seemingly haunted by vestiges of the actual past.

francis upritchard, "methusalem"
ivan anthony, corner of east and k'rd
until march 26, 2011

"easy listening presents:
francis upritchard in conversation with tessa laird"
march 14, 6pm
elam lecture theatre 432

images: francis upritchard "angry" (2011)
wire, foil, super sculpy, paint
235 x 240 x 140mm

francis upritchard "day dreamer" (2011)
wire, foil, super sculpy, paint, found fabric
260 x 150 x 555mm