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Indepth Arts News:
"Relics from Rustic Animations"
1999-07-23 until 1999-09-04
Silicon Pulp Animation Gallery
Stanmore, ,
AU Australia
Opening on Friday 23rd July 1999, Silicon Pulps fifth exhibition entitled Relics from
Rustic Animations showcases the work of two of Australias most original and innovative
animation artists, Bruce Currie and John Wilkinson.
Both express the macabre in a humorous manner, juxtaposing everyday characters with
weird and wonderful surrounds, or placing bizarre figures into familiar territories and
contexts. As an indication of their relic status, both were represented in the 1988
Bicentennial Touring Exhibition.
Bruce Currie is an enigmatic entertainer - an actor, writer, director, producer, illustrator
and animator. The folkloric nature of his stories and characters belies the polish and
technical intricacy that Currie demands of his enterprises. The realism and accessibility of
his characters give his work such depth and pathos that he must be considered one of our
finest animators. As hip modernist illustrator and master of the hand-painted cel, he has
now become a wizard of 3D computer technology, winning this years coveted Dendy
short film award for his latest animation Love Song.
Curries design and illustration work has graced the pages of Rolling Stone magazine, and
best-selling books by Wendy Harmer and Red Symons. His vignettes were broadcast on
SBS before and between Eat Carpet films, with long-time collaborator Paul Livingston
(aka Flacco) providing a live-action foil to Curries animated forays.
John Wilkinson exemplifies the professional ratbag art vandal, marauding through space
and time, mutilating the works of masters such as Manet and re-animating in the cut and
paste style of mentor Terry Gilliam. He creates humorous monsters and nightmare
images, influences including Hieronymus Bosch, Max Ernst and The Temptation of St
Anthony - a bit like Dali pumped up on steroids. Pilfered cut-outs, collage figures and
backdrops, mixed media dioramas and stop-motion animation all become dangerous tools
as he positions us in front of a peephole into the apocalypse.
Wilkinsons animations have been used for documentaries and TV commercials, although
he is probably best known for his music videos for bands such as Karma County, Mental
As Anything and The Cruel Sea, and most recently his South Park-style opener for the
99 41st Logie Awards for Channel 9.
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