Nick Stathopoulos: Anthropocene

Overview

You may be acquainted with Nick Stathopoulos via his recent Archibald entry, Ugly, which controversially didn't make the 54 finalists. The portrait of author Robert Hoge, who was born with a tumour on his forehead and distorted facial features, wasn't chosen as a finalist, but did take out the People's Choice Award at the Salon des Refuses.

The work in Stathopoulos's new exhibition, Anthropocene, is of a decidedly less photorealistic bent. This collection of paintings and sculptures was born out of hundreds of the artist's sketchbook doodles — and the result is a hodgepodge of the bizarre, the ethereal, the surreal and his previous toy obsession.

It's easy to see why Stathopoulos also does science fiction cover art. There are skeletal things and giant balloon-like heads floating like clouds in the sky and desolate post-apocalyptic-type landscapes. An afternoon spent here would probably leave you feeling like you'd entered a strange other universe. Go on and drift away.