Exhibits,

Harry Hay, Simon Gardam Binate Variations

Opening: Wednesday 8 April, 6-8pm Dates: 8 – 25 April 2015

The discourse Harry Hay and Simon Gardam will facilitate in their exhibition Binate Variations focuses on a number of issues specific to abstract painting. Firstly, the (im)possibilty of achieving new abstract form. Given that any single smudge of paint is no more abstract than a smudge of jam, and most visual structures either willingly or unwillingly fall into the realm of landscape, still life and other pictorial modes of representation, can abstract painting achieve new form? If we are optimistic and assume that it can, then how do we begin the task of reconciling complex spatial properties with the abstract, given that space in painting is inherently figurative?

Harry Hay (b. 1991) completed his Bachelor of Fine Art in Painting and Expanded Studio Practice at RMIT in 2012. In 2013 he completed Honours at RMIT University. Since then he has exhibited regularly, both in Melbourne and interstate. In 2013 he partook in the National Graduate exhibition at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art. In 2014 he exhibited in group exhibitions at Project Space (Future Strategies), Kings ARI (Trophy Shop and Super Fictions) and Constance ARI in Hobart. Together with Simon Gardam, he established Trophy Shop Studios in Preston and later Trophy Shop Project Space, which ran several exhibitions before closing in October 2014. Hay and Gardam recently co-founded Trophy Shop studios in Richmond, where they continue to develop their respective painting practices. Simon Gardam (b. 1988) is an interdisciplinary artist living and working in Melbourne. In 2012 he completed his Bachelor in Fine Art at RMIT University. Recent Exhibitions include Trophy Shop (Kings ARI), The Aggregate & The Algorithm (Tristian Koenig Gallery), Trophy Shop (Constance ARI) & Super Fictions (RMIT Project Space, curated by Peter Hill). Gardam has undertaken residencies at Alexandrinenstr Studios (Berlin 2011) and Arteles Centre (Tampere, Finland 2013). Other Projects include Trophy Shop Studios / Project Space (co-founder) & Kell//ua (audio synthesis). 2015 will see his first solo exhibition with Tristian Koenig Gallery.