EXHIBITIONs' OPENING at Ladder Art Space in Melbourne

The Final Privilege: A Royal Requiem - Doyle William Barrow

“The Final Privilege: A Royal Requiem” delves into the intersection of mortality, legacy, and the opulence of royal power. This exhibition showcases anatomical skeleton forms draped in miniature costumes inspired by iconic queens of Western Europe. In the tradition of les poupees de couture, each costume represents the grandeur and vulnerability of Franco/ Anglo history.

The gilded skeletons evoke the inescapable passage of time and the ultimate fate of those who once ruled with privilege. The juxtaposition of fleshless bones and delicate fabric becomes a poignant reminder that even royalty, in all its splendour, cannot escape the ravages of time.

I am a Melbourne-based artist with a Bachelor of Dramatic Arts from the Victorian College of the Arts, where I majored in theatre design and production. Over the years, I’ve worked on a diverse range of projects, including fabrication for Walking with Dinosaurs, costume design for Ballet Lab’s Brindabella and Axe Man Lullaby, costume design for Finucane & Smith’s Carnival of Mysteries at the Melbourne International Arts Festival, and a range of productions with Opera Victoria, Melbourne Theatre Company, and Melbourne Fringe Festival.

In my practice, I use traditional techniques and fabrication, driven by a passion for experimentation and storytelling. I have developed a distinct style of manipulating fabrics and textures that blends form with figurative elements. While I am predominantly a collaborator, this exhibition marks my first solo show—something I’ve been working towards. My work explores the intersection of material, narrative, and emotion, inviting viewers to experience the layers of meaning that emerge through tactile and visual exploration.

Not Out* - Vivek Khakhar

“Not out*” is an exhibition comprising works in various mediums to celebrate the sport I love, that is cricket. The theme of the exhibition is to showcase the unsaid, traditions, intricacies and etiquettes of cricket in a humourous manner. In cricket,other than the rules and laws of the game which must be followed, there are activities carried out which are not bound by any rule but purely because of the traditions, little quirks of the game and common manners. For examples, which side enters or leaves the field first, batting time, asking for a guard to the umpire, field positioning, shining the ball etc.

My works have been inspired from my own experience of playing and following cricket. I have also attempted to showcase that cricket brings people together, who enjoy the same virtues, follow the same traditions and laws of the sport. There are many like me, who get involved with the sport over the summer. This gives a great opportunity to engage, with the community and share the same level playing field. And more importantly, enjoy cricket.

In doing so, my works have engaged with the traditional forms of paintings consisting of portraiture and still life in contemporary fashion as well as engaged with popular culture, mixed media and photography.

Vivek Khakhar (b.1990) is an Indian Australian visual artist based in Melbourne. Vivek holds a Diploma of Visual arts from RMIT, Melbourne and have been practicing art since 2020.

Vivek’s artworks are narrative driven and personal. The subject matters are inspired from various sources such as past experienced, identity, and culture. As a naturalised citizen, the embracing of new culture while maintaining cultural ties with his Indian heritage creates a tension that fuels Vivek’s works.

Vivek’s creative process usually starts with small drawings and jotted ideas which are further explored by way of reading, researching, compositional trials and colour trials. Vivek tries to express these ideas and narratives mainly through oil paints; however, he has also explored collage, as well as printmaking and photography. In future Vivek wishes to expand his practice to larger scale works.

The Devotions Series - David Farries

My birth name is Davied Farries, however I’ve chosen my adoption family name David P. J. Roach as my pen name/ signature. In 1998 I successfully completed a Diploma of Arts (Visual Art) from Outer Eastern TAFE Melbourne. This set up my art works for the next 25 years. In 2012 I successfully completed a Bachelor of Arts (Art History) from Griffith University Brisbane. I decided to do a degree in Art History instead of Fine Art because I didn’t want to go to art school twice. I formulated my art ideas from the Visual Art Diploma. This exhibition will be my 13th solo exhibition in Melbourne. Galleries I’ve been with include; Artemis Gallery, Alternating Current Artspace, Toot Artspace, Chapel on Station Gallery, Jarmbi Gallery and Eckersley’s Open Space Gallery. My mother is an artist and we have done a few projects together including The Maze Project St. Kilda in 1994. I’ve been in 11 Group Exhibitions, notably Walker Street Gallery who have collected my work. As far as Publications go, The Leader Free Newspaper have covered my solo exhibitions 6 times. One article title was called ; “A picture of Self-belief” by Catherine Kelly from the Maroondah Leader. Iam in a number of Collections, notably in the collection of Steve Cox. I did 2 commissions for Glady and in the collections of Mr. Mick Young, Mr. Anthony Keain, Walker Street Gallery and Toot Artspace. I hope my new work pleases you.