Exhibits,

Zac St Clair, Bill Noonan Poolroom: Walk, Don’t Run

Opening: Wednesday 26 February, 6-8pm Dates: 26 February-15 March 2014

‘Poolroom: Walk, Don’t Run’ is a valiant attempt by Zac St Clair and Bill Noonan to create a public pool setting. Responding to specific memories and aspects of their local pools, St Clair and Noonan look to tackle the notions of artificiality, nostalgia and childhood recreation and its decline into the lethargy and laziness of their adulthood. Through this reflection on ‘the good times’ they seek to question to what extent an individual’s nostalgia, or even a generation of 80’s and 90’s children, can be materialised, and how crucial the senses are in triggering these specific memories. Working through the ongoing tensions between apathy and optimism, as well as amateurism and elitism, they aim to revive the energy, focus on play and the prankster inclination banished to the title of immaturity. Contains chlorine.

Bill Noonan uses crude materials, ‘hack’ methodologies and impulsive branding to respond to the nuances of gastronomic culture. Specifically the presence of low culture, childhood memory and nostalgia within gastronomic contexts. Looking at the relationship between this ‘refined lowbrow’ and the the imposed ranking systems and ‘trophies’ of excellence and expertise. He is yet to win a Michelin Star. In 2013 he completed his Bachelor of Fine Art (Drawing), exhibited at Seventh (Kraftwerk: Ohm, Sweet Ohm) and Margaret Lawrence Gallery (Majlis) and his interview with Hans Ulrich Obrist and Simon Castets was published in White Zinfandel Magazine, as part of the ongoing 89Plus project.

Zac St. Clair’s current practice seeks to explore the potentially innovative diversions boredom and the boringness of objects provide us with. Absurd anomalies become present by slowly reworking and rehashing ideas with limited materials via the metaphysical processes of becoming bored with one’s self. By implementing a lethargic approach to work and production Zac’s practice serves an idle, passive protest against capitalist ideals that is both optimistic and apathetic. Zac successfully completed his Bachelor of Fine Art (painting) degree at The Victorian College of the Arts in 2013. Recent collaborative projects include: “Should” with Will Sutherland, Seventh Gallery (2013), “Inhabitation” with Bill Noonan, VCA Student Gallery (2013).