Delve into the local artists' imagination at his latest exhibition On Top, In Front.
Delve into the local artists' imagination at his latest exhibition On Top, In Front.
Opening at The Arts Centre this weekend, On Top, In Front is a playful and intriguing exhibition by the Coast’s Chris Bennie.
We speak with Chris about challenging audiences understanding of art and his habit of placing things on top and in front of one another.
Tell us about your upcoming exhibition at The Arts Centre…
On Top, In Front has stemmed from personal reflection on ten years of art making and the observance of a process that I seem to regularly employ – placing something on top, or in front of something else. It provides my audience the opportunity to see the pluralism of my interests and will include work familiar to local audiences including The Kissing Swans (2013) and The Waves (2015) as well as new pieces. I’m excited about the diversity of a show grounded through a coherent and consistent methodology.
Is there a piece you can’t wait to unveil?
I’m keen to see how the experiments I’ve made using video, photography, painting and collage create a dynamic experience for visitors to the Gold Coast City Gallery’s foyer. It will be clear I’ve included pieces that could be considered challenging in terms of a general understanding of art. However it’s my hope people will spend time with the exhibition, seeking out nuances and subtleties within and between the works.
How long have you been showcasing your art on the Gold Coast?
I studied Fine Art at Griffith University, graduating with a Bachelors Degree in 2002, an Honours Degree in 2003 and a Doctorate in 2009. I’ve been exhibiting in the region and nationally consistently since my undergraduate degree and have had my work shown in the Gold Coast City Gallery numerous times. In 2012 my work The Western Fields was awarded the Gold Coast Art Prize by judge Dr Campbell Gray, Director University of Queensland Art Museum, and in 2013 I won the Swell Sculpture Festival with my transformed flood-affected caravan The Kissing Swans (2013), judged by Julie Ewington, Curatorial Manager Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane.
How do you describe the type of art you create?
My work could be described as spontaneously developed reconsiderations of authentic experience within contexts and frameworks of the spectacle of contemporary existence, including its perceived homogeneity, with an emphasis on ridiculousness and play.
Where do you get your inspiration?
Everywhere. In particular the glaring paradoxes I see daily. The Gold Coast has many including an obvious dichotomy between the majesty of the ocean to our east and the absurdity of say Cavill Avenue at 2am on a Saturday night. However I draw my motivation to make art from highly considered and unique reflections on contemporary existence that other contemporary artists seem to make. Sculptors like Mark Manders and Isa Genzken provide incredibly satisfying proposals for what sculpture can be at the same time as making us question their use of materials and conceptual concerns.
How do you see the art culture on the Gold Coast?
Art and culture seem to mean different things to different people on the Gold Coast. After spending 10 years at a university engaging in the fantastically complex, dynamic and flawed history of art in order to be armed enough to contribute to it in unique and potentially lasting ways, I find it confusing and somewhat problematic that entertainment and café culture is included in the regions assumption of what culture is. Clearly culture is developed within a social framework, and cafe culture is valuable in that regard. However I’d like to see support and possibly even findings funneled towards more non-traditional forms of culture – ones that might make us look at ourselves in new ways. This should include a more dynamic public art strategy, the implementation of a Gold Coast Art Biennale (event) and the re-establishment of a dedicated visual art degree at Griffith University on the Gold Coast. That said the regions’ support for theatre and music seems to be growing.
Tell us about your career up to this point, how did you come to be where you are?
Persistence and a desire to always portray or unearth a new project or artwork. I’m very lucky to be able to work as a lecturer in Visual Art at Griffith University, which supports my art practice while providing incredible joy in the opportunity to share my knowledge and experience with new artists.
What else is happening in the world of Chris Bennie?
My ongoing project New Bodies of Water consists of dozens of amateur landscape paintings, on which I have over-painted any water (rivers, lakes, ocean) in burgundy acrylic paint, was recently included in Sculpture at Scenic World in the Blue Mountains. At the same time I presented a major solo exhibition titled Mood Swings at Pop Gallery in Brisbane that featured a commissioned essay by Brisbane curator Miranda Hine and an accompanying catalogue that can be downloaded form my website. I’m currently very busy with work at Griffith, it’s assessment time and I have a lot of marking to do. Once that’s complete I will begin developing new work for a solo exhibition for the Clutch Collective – an artist run initiative in Brisbane who present art projects in a large white removalist truck. In September a photograph from the project New Bodies of Water will be a finalist in the Sunshine Coast Art Prize.
Your favourite piece of life advice…
Eat well, enjoy your own company, enjoy the company of others, exercise daily, read, get off social media, leave the house often, get petrol on the way home, dance in the kitchen…
Being a Gold Coast local we have to ask your favourites…
Beach: Burleigh in summer on Wednesday mornings for the free surf swim sessions
Café: Bam Bam Bakehouse
Gallery: The Walls Artspace, 18 Mountainview Ave, Miami
Weekend hang: Pacific Fair
The Gold Coast’s local art scene has blossomed exponentially in the last few years. Galleries, installations and murals have popped up all over the Coast and local artists are making themselves known both here and on the national scene.
If you’re looking for a unique way to spend a day on the Gold Coast, we’ve got just the answer. Here’s a list of local galleries to help you get your art fix.
Wayne Sorrenson Gallery
World-renowned landscape photographer Wayne Sorrenson opened his very own gallery in Miami in 2020 so we, the lucky Gold Coasters get to peruse his breathtaking art anytime we like. Within the gallery, there’s a huge selection of framed artwork to purchase, as well as a range of gift ideas including acrylic blocks, greeting cards and calendars to name a few. It’s all absolutely magical and a lovely stand-in for the international travel we aren’t allowed to do right now.
Where: 40 Lemana Lane, Miami
Anthea Polson Art
Anthea Polson Art specialises in contemporary emerging Australian art and sculpture, including investment works. A regular exhibition programme showcases the work of emerging and established contemporary artists.
Where: 29 Tedder Avenue, Main Beach
Maverick Hair & Art Space
Maverick is a small gallery hosting community art exhibitions and events throughout the year. Headed up by artist Byron Coathup and partner Hayley, the space (also boasting a hair studio) caters for art and design lovers and offers beautiful gifts for purchase from both near and far. Don’t be afraid to head up the stairs and check out the gallery.
Where: First Floor, 1/17 Griffith Street, Coolangatta
The Hive Burleigh Heads
The newest of the bunch, The HIVE was opened very recently by Jo Ellings, a Gold Coast artist who has been creating stunning works for over 30 years and is now sharing that talent with the likes of us. Within the gallery you’ll find an array of stunning works to take home with you or, if you’d like to stay awhile why not grab a ticket to one of their workshops and become an artist yourself. There’s also a regular meetup and music night if you want to meet some like-minded folks.
Where: 5/3 Park Avenue, Burleigh Heads
Level Up studio + gallery
The space is designed to provide access to art experiences for young people and adults within the local community and beyond, through public programs hosting a range of creative activations, such as art workshops, artist talks, school holiday workshops, networking events and an exciting monthly exhibitions program. Emerging artists can apply for space and we can all pop in there to check out the magic. So good.
Where: 72-82 Marine Parade, Coolangatta
The Walls Art Space Miami
The Walls is an interactive space that began in 2012 aiming to serve as a hub of creative practice, critical dialogue and innovative thinking around contemporary art. Their annual program focus is to curate monthly exhibitions in conjunction with their successful local artist in residence program.
Where: 4/18 Mountain View Avenue, Miami
AW Space
Created by the good people at ArtWork Agency, AW Space is a pretty art gallery slash workshop slash event space showcasing the work of a team of folks whose names you’ve no doubt heard uttered once or twice. They are Claudio Kirac and his equally impressive partners in crime Paul Bow and Laura Strange. All talented within their own rights, the team have combined their forces to create a stunning space filled with beautiful works. Do yourself a favour and get in there.
Where: 2/53-55 Cronulla Avenue, Mermaid Beach
Café dbar
Stop in for a delicious brunch overlooking the ocean and take in the collection of local art and handmade goodies next door while you’re there! The space combines works by local artists with a new store filled with locally made homewares, clothing and creative pieces.
Where: 275 Boundary Street, Coolangatta
19Karen Contemporary Artspace
A stunning space filled with bold new art (and all for purchase!) by emerging, mid-career and established Australian and International artists. Exhibitions curated by Terri Lew rotate regularly, ranging in style and genre from pop culture, surrealism, realism, street art, abstraction and to the still undefined.
Where: 19 Karen Avenue, Mermaid Beach
HOTA
The Gold Coast’s premier cultural precinct, HOTA (Home of The Arts) has been showcasing visual and performing arts since 1986. With an array of exhibitions, cinemas and dining/bar facilities, there’s something for everyone throughout the entire year. In 2021, we saw the precinct increase in size with an incredible new six-level Gallery that attracts with world-class exhibitions (including Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and more) plus a showcase of incredible local artists.
Where: 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise
Dust Temple
A refurbished warehouse (a piece of art itself) in the heart of Currumbin Waters, Dust Temple and its creative space Hinge Gallery hosts local, national and international artists, musicians and poets. There’s also a fantastic café / coffee shop, so stay awhile and soak up the creative scene.
Where: 54 Currumbin Creek Road, Currumbin Waters
The Gold Coast is known for many things, one of which is definitely our beautiful waterways. Slightly lesser known perhaps is our rich Aboriginal history, wildlife conservation efforts and the passionate locals sharing the stories.
That’s about to change though thanks to Kayak the Gold Coast’s new ‘Heart of the Gold Coast’ half-day tour package.
Incorporating a unique spin on their original tours, ‘Heart of the Gold Coast’ takes guests on a cultural experience unlike anything the Coast has seen before.
The package begins at the Burleigh Jellurgal Cultural Centre where guests watch a short film on the Gold Coast’s Aboriginal history including ancient burial sites and the unique ways of the Yugambeh people who lived in Burleigh Heads over 4,000 years ago.
After receiving an ochre blessing, the tour heads out onto Burleigh Hill where guests are taken on a sub-tropical hike and told stories of the Aboriginal people who lived there thousands of years ago, how they lived and hunted food and how they believe the mountain was formed.
The hike comes complete with stunning views of the Coastline and a dolphin sighting if you’re lucky.
It’s both an educational and spiritual experience and you can’t help but be awe-struck by the passion with which the Indigenous tour guides share their people’s history and beliefs.
A delicious morning tea follows and then it’s sunscreen, life jackets and onto the kayaks for a leisurely cruise down the ridiculously beautiful and tranquil Tallebudgera Creek.
A quick stop over for a dip, past the (huge) local Osprey’s nest and guests pull up to the purpose built kayak ramp at David Fleay Wildlife Park.
Maybe you’ve been to Fleay’s but if not (guilty), there is a lot to learn about the man who paved the way for animal conservation in Australia.
David Fleay was passionate about keeping animals in enclosures the same as they would inhabit in the wild and after moving to the Gold Coast from Melbourne, he and his wife purchased land next to the creek and did exactly that.
With constant research and conservation techniques, he created a wildlife park resembling local wetlands.
The package includes the park’s Creatures of the Night show featuring an absolutely delightful sugar glider and a Bilby who literally buries his head in the sand.
We’re a lucky bunch here on the Coast, surrounded by enriching culture, both natural and historic and people whose passion it is to share that culture with anyone willing to listen.
‘Heart of the Gold Coast’ is an incredibly enriching tour package for both locals who may be unaware of our extensive Aboriginal history and visitors who want to experience our incredible natural wonders while also learning about how they came to be.
Package includes:
· Pick up and drop off from your hotel
· Indigenous history + kayak + wildlife park entry
· Morning tea
· Water, sunscreen & paddling lesson
· Small groups and personal service
· The best of Burleigh Heads
· Toilets + café
· Complimentary photographs of kayaking
Tour package runs from 7.30am until 12pm through Kayak the Gold Coast.
Long before healthy food became hipster, Helen’s Heavenly Bulk Foods was serving up delicious, good-for-you treats in the heart of Burleigh.
Since 1997 Helen Gibson has been a prominent figure on James Street sharing her love of healthy food including nuts and seeds, baking goods, herbs and spices, teas and powders, Acai bowls, smoothies and fresh juices.
Recently the space next door became available so Helen jumped at the chance to move the juice bar to accommodate her loyal customers who come from far and wide for her goodies.
Helen’s Heavenly Wholefoods Café serve a great range of healthy wraps, sandwiches and salads some of which are gluten free and/or organic.
They also have an unfairly delicious range of raw treats and protein powders available for purchase.
Both the store and café are constantly buzzing with bikini-clad beach goers, mums and bubs and those looking for fresh, delicious food and a passion for health you’d be cold hard-pressed to find anywhere else.
Stroll off the nearby Burleigh beach for a healthy takeaway treat or spend some time in air-conditioned comfort and watch the world pass by.
Having always been ahead of the curve in terms of providing delicious, healthy treats to Gold Coasters, Helen’s Heavenly Bulk Foods is the gift that keeps on giving.
Hours: 6.30am to 5.30pm
Address: 2/29 James St, Burleigh Heads QLD.
Words and photos by Kirra Smith.
