During 1999, Lucas Ihlein was invited to participate in ARX5 (Artists Regional Exchange Project). Established in 1988, ARX is a residency programme which allows artists from different cultures to work together to produce original works for exhibition, to encourage dialogue and promote new networks. ARX5 brought together 15 artists from Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia in residencies in each country over a fifteen month period.
Lucas will be presenting installation works made during these residencies. It is the first time the works have been shown together and include writings and drawings produced in Singapore, memories from Hong Kong and dreams from Perth - each recorded in a unique way in response to his experiences in each location.
In addition, Lucas will be resident in the gallery for the duration of the exhibition - shared living space and art space - emulating the 'residency' situation of ARX and producing new works in response to this particular time and place and his experiences of Adelaide and its people.
The new works may take the form of limited edition publications and other small press works or peformances and public interactive 'happenings' including the Event For Touristic Sites which has previously occurred at the Sydney Opera House, National Museum of Australia, and the Reichstag in Berlin where participants choose a T-shirt emblazoned with one of 40 national stereotypes such as "All Australians are Slobs" or "All Italians are Horny" and pose for a photo in front of the tourist icon.
Lucas will also present a rare screening of two films about film: Gustave Deutsch's "Film Ist" which produces a stunning essay about the potential of film - philosophical, structuralist and highly entertaining (1966, Austria, 60 mins) and Samuel Becket's "Film" which stars an aged and worn Buster Keaton whose character maniacally struggles to shut down the horror of watching eyes (1965, USA, 20 mins). These screenings will be held at the Iris Cinema (rear of Mercury Cinema) at the Lion Arts Centre and will include a special bonus event - definitely not to be missed! 6.30-9pm Wednesday 6 November.
Lucas was co-founder of SQUATSPACE artist run initiative in Sydney and will be presenting a collection of film and videos by artists and activists mainly from Sydney, about squatting around the world - at the EAF gallery 6.30-9pm Thursday 7 November.
IMAGE:
Matt Hunt and Sarah Miller
(sporting a tourist t-shirt by Lucas Ihlein)
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