11 - 28 February 2021
about the exhibition
Drawn to materials that are weathered and worn, Alex Asch reinterprets found objects in the construction of his unique sculptures presenting new ways to examine our environment. Discarded materials are favoured in his constructions as they reveal remnants of a past life, often weathered by the elements of nature as well as altered or marked by tools and fittings. These characteristics of his medium indicate the previous value of the materials as a whole object, now seen as composite elements in an entirely new structure. Alex is interested in the capabilities of association between object and form, deconstructing elements to create simplified and symbolic representations of the world around him. The assemblages in ‘axis’ explore the dramatic changes in the atmosphere during the Summer fires of 2020, Alex writes, “The Sky transformed into a blanket of orange, grey and brown. The smoke so thick it seems to defy all reason and the world’s axis groaning under the irrational denial…”. Alex’s preoccupation with climate change permeates the works in ‘axis’, which extend his reputation for intelligent, provocative juxtaposition of disparate materials. “The landscapes I created over that time seem distant and unreal, however they are a moment of truth and a vivid account of a changing environment.” Eminent art critic and historian, Professor Sasha Grishin, says of Alex: “His work is quirky, yet tough; humorous, yet serious; brilliantly crafted, but also naïve and understated in its use of stylistic conventions….Alex Asch has become an original and distinctive voice in Australian art.”
Alex Asch was born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA and was involved in university art programs in Los Angeles and New York before moving to Australia and studying art at the Australian National University in 1988. He has exhibited extensively in solo and group exhibitions throughout Australia and provides technical assistance to a number of arts organisations around Canberra. In 2017, Alex was awarded the CAPO Fellowship by the Capital Arts Patrons Organisation and was the recipient of the Workplace Research Associates Award by CAPO in 2015. In 2020, Alex worked as an art mentor and tutor for Regeneration an arts organisation working with local bushfire-affected communities. Alex’s work has recently been collected by the National Gallery of Australia and is also included in the collections of Artbank, ACT Legislative Assembly and Canberra Museum and Gallery as well as corporate collections in Australia, USA, UK, Denmark and Netherlands.
