Assembling Worlds

Overview

It’s hard to envision collage as a legitimate artform when only pipecleaners, preschool and budget birthday cards come to mind at its mention. Brisbane artists Rachael Bartram and Warren Handley, however, have reinvented the art of collage in a more mature medium, with not a pom pom, paddle pop stick or glitter shaker in sight.

Their combined exhibition Assembling Worlds II presents an idea of two or more worlds in just one image. While Rachael re-contextualises her imagery by collecting, cutting, slicing and splicing – praise the glue stick – Warren’s process involves a digital form of collage where by a computer becomes his Clag.  Their pieces show off characters upon clashing backdrops, with a manipulation of fiction and fact make for a minefield of challenges and questions about global issues. Some pieces provide stark contrast, while others fit together quite cleanly, but they always hold a composition that sits within the fringes of two worlds.

You can catch the work of Assembling Worlds II at West End’s Depo till the October 26.