Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery - Fiona Hall

I have to be honest but I’m not 100% sure what to make of the creatures hanging from the walls, I do however get the fact that they are listed as ‘critically endangered’ so I guess Fiona is trying to bring their plight to our attention by bringing their size to a larger scale and their look by showing them in a beautifully made light.

I really loved ‘Line in the Sand’, glass, wire and neon, it doesn’t make me nauseous it’s just too beautiful to make anyone feel ill.

‘Nerve Endings’, glass, wire and video is so beautiful, it’s a reminder of how hard Fiona’s work must be but at the same time it’s another reminder to a world endangered.

And the 3 tinned works, ‘Breathing in the Afterlife’, ‘love me Tender’ and ‘Shoot the Breeze’ all made out of tin and with a video, these are really strong works, each one evokes a sense of sadness of losing a living and breathing world. They are just so overwhelmingly beautiful.

‘21st Century Man’, US dollars is a pretty wild work and hope Fiona hasn’t gotten into too much trouble over that one.

I remember a show Fiona had with my sister Fiona MacDonald at the UTS Gallery back in 2005, ‘Strangely Familiar’, entailed a collection of bird nests made out of US dollars set up in a beautiful wooden and glass standing cabinet, there was also a carpet on the floor with botanical specimens weaved all the way through it. That was a fantastic show! And I also remember Fiona’s beautiful bank notes with painted leaves and I am still kicking myself for not buying one of those works.

Fiona Hall is a true artist, a hard working artist and an Artist’s Artist, one that goes from strength to strength and one that we all love and follow.

Fleur MacDonald

3rd November - 26th November 2011
www.roslynoxley9.com.au