David Noonan: Stagecraft

Transformation and ambiguity are the leading themes of this exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ballarat.
Cordelia Williamson
July 01, 2020

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Overview

Thinking of getting out of town and heading to Ballarat for a weekend of food and wine? Well, now you have one more excuse to plan a day trip to the picturesque town, because Australia's largest and oldest regional art gallery, the Art Gallery of Ballarat, has reopened — and it's got some excellent exhibitions. One you won't want to miss is the solo exhibition David Noonan: Stagecraft, which is running till the end of January.

The Ballarat-born, London-based multidisciplinary artist's works have appeared in major Australian galleries like the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney and the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, as well as at the Tate Modern in London. Repurposing found black-and-white photographs from old avant-garde magazines, Noonan creates everything from silkscreen prints to tapestries and films — all of which feature in this exhibition. The result is mesmerising and often haunting works that seem like something out of a nightmarish scene at the Moulin Rouge.

David Noonan, 'Untitled' (2019). Jacquard loom tapestry.

The show features immersive jacquard tapestries, large-scale silkscreen collages and Noonan's 2017 film piece A dark and quiet place. Expect theatrical figures in costume, wearing masks or putting on make-up, signifying connecting themes of transformation and ambiguity.

The Art Gallery of Ballarat is showing the exhibition for free, however you'll need to book in a time to visit in order to adhere to COVID-19 restrictions. You can book via the gallery's website.

Top image: David Noonan, 'Untitled' (2019). Jacquard loom tapestry. Courtesy David Noonan and Anna Schwartz Gallery.

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For the latest info on Victoria's stay-at-home orders in 36 suburbs, head to the DHHS website.

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