Household Junk Becomes Art In A Brilliant Still-Life Exhibition

Chaotic, vibrant and resourceful are the ideal phrases to describe Shelley Horan’s newest images sequence, Compositions.

The Melbourne artist had been focusing on portrait get the job done in advance of lockdowns pressured her to appear for inspiration a tiny closer to household. Stuck inside of, ‘common and ordinary’ became her new topics – enjoying close to with ‘hilarious’ pairings like a raspberry well balanced earlier mentioned a toothbrush, or colourful setting up blocks inside a wine glass.

‘I turned to building still daily life purely mainly because it was realistic,’ Shelley says. ‘I could make shots from home that happy my resourceful impulses. But building do the job in this way has actually taken a maintain on me, in a way I under no circumstances envisioned.’

The series showcases functional issues along with everyday garbage, like a champagne cork, or ribbon from a birthday current. She poked all around in the fridge or below the lavatory sink to seem for some thing exciting or weird, demanding herself to conjure up preparations that would make for a astonishing image.

It was a ‘fairly messy and chaotic practice’ filled with experimentation. Some of the photos are the consequence of 8 or much more hrs of arranging and rearranging, and that was ahead of Shelley even begun her demanding process of retouching, take a look at printing, much more remodeling, re-printing and framing!

‘I’ve photographed a lot of items that may well usually be neglected,’ Shelley provides. ‘I get a actual kick from creating everyday items appear important. But there’s also a harmony involving the colours and textures. There is a full new indicating that will come out of this really very simple arrangement.’

The operates are beautifully vibrant and eye-catching at initial look, but their personal element and familiarity also encourages viewers to quit and think – with any luck ,, Shelley states, with a smile on their facial area.

‘I’d like people to sense delighted, surprised, perplexed and curious. I get a large amount of joy from creating perform, and I hope this joyfulness comes across.’

See Compositions at Modern-day Instances from Thursday Oct 27 right until Tuesday November 8. Look at the catalogue below.

Modern-day Occasions
311 Smith Road
Fitzroy, VIC