DAN SIBLEY
BIOGRAPHY & CV
“It’s about Australian-ness – whatever that is...”
Dan Sibley believes art can be a catalyst for new perspectives. To this end, his work represents both an on-going experimentation at the intersection of form and content, and an exploration of the ways in which the visual idiom speaks of culture. For example, the fact that the technique of dot-painting has particular resonance in the Australian context is exploited by this artist, who uses it strategically to hint at a wide range of possible meanings.
Dot-painting is usually seen as symbolic of the unique relationship to land of Australia’s indigenous peoples, and of the underlying mystery of certain localities not available to the uninitiate viewer. However, dotting can also signify the pixels that compose the mass-media imagery which indiscriminately colonizes the contemporary world.
Sibley combines his background in printmaking with the freedom offered by painting to examine our presumptions. His “inkjet-printing by hand” process crosses boundaries, disturbs expectations, complicates ownership, heightens ambiguity, and leaves the artworks' meaning open-ended: it remains for viewers to take from, or give to, the images what they want.
Education
2003
Bachelor of Fine Arts, (Printmaking) RMIT, Melbourne
2001-02
Bachelor of Fine Arts, (Printmaking) South Australian School of Art
1999-00
Advanced Diploma Applied Design, TAFE Adelaide
1998
Certificate of Fine Arts, North Adelaide School of Art
Solo Exhibitions
2009
Edwina Corlette Gallery, Brisbane
2008
Michael Koro Galleries, Melbourne
2006
No Mans Land, Until Never Gallery, Melbourne
2004
Narcissism and Me, Hush Hush Gallery, Melbourne 2002
Accept No Imitations, Seas Gallery, Adelaide
Selected Group Exhibitions
2008
Edwina Corlette Gallery, Brisbane
Michael Koro Galleries, Melbourne
2006
Swipe. Artist/ Co Curator, Hush Hush Gallery Melbourne
Class of 06, Blank Space, Sydney
Until Never Gallery Melbourne
2005
Grand Opening, Until Never Gallery, Melbourne
Dinner Party Ember 67, Gertrude , Melbourne
Transit, Co. Curator/ Artist. MAS Gallery, Melbourne
True Fantasy, Silent Army Publication , Launch Ember 67, Melbourne
Un-Australian and Proud, Trocadero Artspace, Melbourne
2004
67 % Say They Were Misled. Melbourne, Vienna, Budapest, Dublin.
Role Models. Co. Curator/ Artist. Forest One Gallery Adelaide
Permit Zone, Citylights Hosier Lane, Melbourne
Guerilla Gorilla , George White Gallery, Melbourne
2003
Derailed. Co. Curator/Artist. Early Space, Melbourne
Collections
National Gallery of Australia