Edwin Daughtry
Metaflorical
18 - 29 Oct 2023
G3
Opening Night
Friday 20 Oct | 6 - 8pm
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“In this intriguing series of still life photographs, aptly named "Metaflorical," we embark on a visual journey that challenges the conventional boundaries of art and questions the very essence of representation. Each composition centres around a bunch of plastic flowers ensconced within a towering white PVC plumber's pipe vase, all set against a backdrop of hand-made fabric. What we encounter here is a profound interplay of the real and the artificial, the ordinary and the abstract, where the banal is imbued with unexpected profundity.
The plastic flowers, forever frozen in their synthetic beauty, are themselves symbols of artificiality and simulacra. Yet, they serve as signifiers for something deeper - a commentary on the nature of representation itself. These photographs navigate the territory of the "metaflorical", transcending the traditional confines of still life. They compel us to consider the semiotic dimensions of art, where objects take on meanings beyond their immediate appearances.
The central positioning of the vase, akin to an obelisk of the modern age, grants it a paradoxical significance - utilitarian and aesthetic simultaneously. It stands as a sentinel of artifice, surrounded by the fabric's textured embrace, inviting us to ponder the interplay between materiality and illusion, the handmade and the mass-produced.
In "Metaflorical," the artist orchestrates a visual symphony that resonates with themes of representation, symbolism, and the intersection of the tangible and the abstract. These photographs beckon us to scrutinise the layers of meaning concealed within everyday objects, offering a meditation on the transformative power of art and its capacity to unveil the profound within the seemingly ordinary.”
ChatGPT in the style of Robert Hughes (b. 1938 – d. 2012)
Artist Bio
Edwin Daughtry, an emerging still-life artist, has devoted the last two and a half years to his full-time studio practice at River Studios in West Melbourne. A member of the Centre for Contemporary Photography, Edwin has showcased his work in the Summer Salons for the previous two years, connecting with a diverse audience and engaging in contemporary visual discourse.
Notably, Edwin achieved recognition as a finalist in the inaugural Nyland Photography Prize and has earned a finalist position in the esteemed STILL: National Still Life Award 2023. His background in film and video production informs his unique approach to still-life art, offering fresh perspectives and interpretations of the genre.
Contact
Phone : (03) 9482 3550
mail@redgallery.com.au
Address
157 St Georges Rd
Fitzroy North, Victoria, 3068
Map
How to get here
Tram: route 11
Stop 21 just north of Edinburgh Gardens
Melway ref: 30B12
Parking in nearby streets
Bus: 504 (Reid Street)
