In an age when ‘real’ spaces are being superseded by virtual ones, one can be anywhere.
Marshall Mcluhan’s maxim “The Global Village” has seen the planet merge with more than just the all pervasive “medium is the message”, immigration on a large scale has reduced borders and tests cultural identity.
Challenging perspectives have emerged, exposing personal associations between individual authenticity and integrity taken from what is a vast mosaic of cultural identity.
My enquiry is with the adjustment of these perceived abstracted as well as physical spaces which are constantly evolving and re-structuring. The work addresses ideas of migration, identity and place. I explore the concept of shrinking borders and the dilution of cultural differences.
How do we individually transplant firmly situated spaces images and motifs and merge/camouflage ourselves seamlessly into our new surroundings?
How do we translate/traverse these borders?
How do we fit into the picture in new public spaces and possible discordant private perceptions?
With the drawings I was thinking of early Australian settlers and how "living off the sheep's back" became so important. I happened to remember the iconic image a Robert Rauschenberg’s combine ‘Monogram’ and thought the two seemed to be connected.
Geoff Tolchard 2012
www.geofftolchard.com
“A border crossing”
“The Cedar merchants ”
“Treading the water”
“Siren ”
“Sea horse ”
“Hopes and Dreams The Lucky Country Flemington Race Course ”
“Race Day, Albert Park”
“Blinking in the shadows”
“Ticket ”
“One hundred miles north. ”
“Equilibrium ”
“monogram with ute_after rauschenberg ”
“monogram after rauschenberg”
