HIP POP
Posted In: art, exhibition, Saatchi & Saatchi, Sydney
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Opening this week at Saatchi & Saatchi is Hip Pop, a group exhibition from the good folks at United Galleries. Now in its third year, Hip Pop features artwork that explores one of two themes: “the ongoing legacy of the ‘pop’ art movement and its continuing influence on contemporary art, and the nature of ‘hip’ cutting edge artistic practices which continually push not just the boundaries, but also our perception of what constitutes art…”
Hip Pop features a really strong contingent of work, and blends a variety of media to create a really interesting cohesive collection with nice points of difference.
Here at Happenstance, we were lucky enough to talk to some of the featured artists. Ben Ali Ong, Lee Grant, Patricia Mado and Ben Rak were kind enough to take time out to talk us through the ins and outs of the trade.
BEN ALI ONG // PHOTO MEDIA
“Although my own work doesn’t fall under the label of pop art, I do enjoy it and have always looked at that kind of work for inspiration… [My] work revolves around themes of mortality and consciousness… I think it’s important to follow your instincts and do what you love, from there you’ll find your own voice…”
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL INTERVIEW & SEE MORE.
PATRICIA MADO // PRINTMAKING
“This is what I try to show with my works: the ‘accidental beauty’ that we are constantly surrounded by and exposed to in our everyday lives… The actual technique of carving is something that has taken me many years to develop; every printmaker has his or her own signature in the lines they choose and don’t choose, it’s like a fingerprint really… I like the process, dedication and to determine what it is going to be from start to finish.”
BEN RAK // PRINTMAKING
“[Pop art] breaks down the barriers between high and low brow culture… My aim is to raise questions about the relationship between conformity and distinction. All the images in the series portray members of subcultures that have been marketed to the masses… Screenprinting seemed to be the ideal medium for combining printmaking and my previous photographic experiences.”
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL INTERVIEW & SEE MORE.
LEE GRANT // PHOTOGRAPHER
“We’re a much more visually literate generation than even our parents were and you only have to open your eyes to see how image saturated we’ve become as a culture… The uncanny – and perhaps slightly freaky – thing about brothers and sisters are the codified behaviours, the funny habits and the more obvious physical likenesses… Generally I’ll know that I want to photograph someone when I see them – it’s a funny thing really…. a little like falling in love, a moment of recognition I suppose.”
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL INTERVIEW & SEE MORE.
Hip Pop opens this Thursday 12 November at Saatchi & Saatchi, 70 George Street, The Rocks, and runs Monday to Friday, 9am – 6pm, until 27 November. As well as the artists featured here, it will also showcase more work from Kareena Zerefos, Stephen Dupont, David Disher, William Holt and Jane Fontane.
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