MUSIC TELEVISION | Evi O & Alex Xerri
Music becomes a mediative painting language for artists, Alex Xerri and Evi O in MUSIC TELEVISION at Saint Cloche, Paddington.
Words: Emma-Kate Wilson | Photography: Jacqui Turk
Evi O and Alex Xerri. Photo - Jacqui Turk.
Cartoon Bones by Alex Xerri, from her current joint exhibition with Evi O, MUSIC TELEVISION. Photo - Jacqui Turk.
Alex Xerri’s artwork which features in the MUSIC TELEVISION exhibition. Photo - Jacqui Turk.
Brought together by Saint Cloche curator and gallerist, Kitty Clark, the two artists were invited to share their reflection on the universal language in music — and the hyper-colourful music television we grew up watching.
From the 13th to the 24th of November, the two artists bring together a collection of works that represent the pre-millennial decade, filled with colour and electricity, and revealing the currents underpinning both the art practice of Evi O and Alex Xerri. “I get an unshakeable feeling that there’s a familiar chord or key behind their creations,” Kitty shares.
“I’ve expanded beyond the television and constructed what an exhausted palaeontologist from my works might have on their coffee table beside them while they watch wildlife documentaries on TV… cigarettes, TV remote, scrunched up AV cable, dinosaur-themed ashtrays, tally-ho papers,” says Alex Xerri. Photo - Jacqui Turk.
“Evi and Alex are like a satisfying music mashup – when I look at both their work, I get an unshakeable feeling that there’s a familiar chord or key behind their creations. ”
“For me, if people can feel the buzz, I get from my hangouts with these people whose energy has become the muse of this collection, then my work is done,” says Evi O. Photo - Jacqui Turk.
Meet Again by Evi O. Photo - Jacqui Turk.
Together, Kitty and Evi found Alex’s artworks at the National Art School booth, as the ‘Director’s Choice’ at Sydney Contemporary 2018. The gallerist found herself drawn to the 1980s nostalgia within the young graduate’s work, and, surprisingly, volcanos. “Not only do I happen to love volcanos, but I love the way Alex applies colour and texture in her work,” Kitty muses.
Thanks to the close working relationship Evi and Kitty share, they both had a “lightbulb” moment of the connection between the two bodies of work. “The idea is to convey emotions I get from human connection through the language of music; of tempo, rhythms and riffs,” Evi explains.
“As a child of the ’80s, I was instantly taken by [Alex’s] work because of the nostalgic elements; I was especially drawn to her volcanic themed paintings…I love the way Alex applies colour and texture in her work.”
Borrowed Time by Evi O. Photo - Jacqui Turk.
“Music feeds into my work, but more as something that just makes me feel good while working in the studio and less so as a subject matter,” says Alex Xerri. Photo - Jacqui Turk.
For Evi, it’s “the familiar feeling of exhilarating human emotions” that we get from music — but can also be found in the colour spectrum. In both artists’ practice, they use a bright tonal palette to represent the emotion and feelings from a shared experience — from music to art, and back again.
“For me, if people can feel the buzz, I get from my hangouts with these people whose energy has become the muse of this collection, then my work is done.”
“Music feeds into my work, but more as something that just makes me feel good while working in the studio and less so as a subject matter,” shares Alex Xerri. Photo - Jacqui Turk.
In her new body of work, Alex will contrast the clean, yet colourful lines, of Evi’s work; and pull together an eclectic mashup of volcanic worlds, 80’s sedans, wobbly analogue cartoons, and “old dinosaur and wildlife documentaries with old funny outdated representations of extinct species.”
“We’re both painters with our own unique aesthetics, but we both wield colour in a way that really fits together,” Alex reflects. The young artist believes it’s the way they both utilise interesting colour combinations that pulls them together thematically. And Evi agrees, “I think both Alex and I share the same energy, even though the execution is quite different.”
“Music feeds into my work, but more as something that just makes me feel good while working in the studio and less so as a subject matter.”
VISIT
MUSIC TELEVISION 6PM WEDNESDAY 13TH - SUNDAY 24TH OF NOVEMBER SAINT CLOCHE - 37 MACDONALD, PADDINGTON, SYDNEY