NO VACANCY PRESENTS: 7 EVILS IN ONE 10.06.10
PHOTOS BY JASON EDWARDS
The title 7 Evils in One! is derived from the work of American artist and comic book illustrator Robert Crumb (Fritz the Cat, Mr Natural). Crumb’s work is widely recognised for it’s distinctive style and subversive, satirical content.
In 1994 Kitchen Sink Press commissioned Robert Crumb to design the packaging of a chocolate bar using his character, “Devil Girl”. On the back of the wrapper of Devil Girl Choco Bar the ingredients were listed:
7 Evils in One! 1-Delicious Taste;
2-Quick, cheap buzz;
3-Bad for your health;
4-Leads to hard drugs;
5-Waste of money;
6-Made by sleazy businessmen;
7-Exploits women.
NO VACANCY PRESENTS: STRANGLEY FAMILIAR 20.05.10
Artist and illustrator Elise Hurst invites us to enter an alternate version of our world which is peopled by animals in this, her first solo exhibition. Rich narratives and strong characters are explored in sumptuous oil paintings and etchings set in the period from 1920-1950. Elise has always been fascinated by the way we perceive animals, their natures and the way we are drawn to see human attributes in them. Here, she combines all of these elements together with the bold stylings of the Art Deco period in the creation of a vivid universe. Ever the story-teller, Elise invites us to draw our own parallels with what we see. For some this will relate to stories from their childhood, others will see elements of film noir in an exotic Europe, and for others - parallels with their own lives.
NO VACANCY PRESENTS: GO FONT UR SELF 4 01.04.10
Typography is at the centre of our everyday lived experience. It gives us a voice to express ideas, tell stories or articulate meaning. Proudly presented by Kirin© GO FONT UR SELF* is back for another round with Chapter 4 arriving on Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane shores in March and April 2010. The touring exhibition, which is a firm favourite in the wonderful world of type, brings you 14 artworks from the world’s most critically acclaimed typographers.
GO FONT UR SELF* embraces letterforms as the inspiration for these works of art from international artists, designers and typographers. Whether it’s in the sweeping strokes and swashes or pixelated punctuation; the alphabet becomes the source for exploring lyrical modes of visual expression. The GO FONT UR SELF* Typography Initiative is an ongoing showcase of typographic works presented by Kirin and produced by Peer Group Media.
NO VACANCY PRESENTS: DANDRUFF 11.03.10
Eveline’s upcoming exhibition titled “Dandruff” explored her recent fascination with fungus, flowers and flirting with nature. Detailed illustrations fill the page with Eveline’s trademark locks of infinite hair. Each piece in the collection subtly presents the female form in various states of strength and weakness, provoking viewers to create their own stories and interpretations. For this particular collection, Eveline’s taken a great big breath and jumped into creating work at a larger scale, ranging in sizes from A4 up to A2. Taking her illustrations to a new level, Dandruff is sure to be one hairy collection of work.
ADNATE: DEMAND ATTENTION: 22.01.10
This year Adnate has brought a solo show to No Vacancy Gallery in Melbourne. The title of the exhibition Demand Attention is derived from Adnate’s perception to people’s constant need to be noticed within society. From his graffiti art to corporate brand name advertising, both strive for attention in the same way: Plastering their names across cities, the two contradictory messages are in a constant visual battle with everyone and everything around them. The show’s subject matter has been specifically broad, exploring elements of life, beauty, the environment, and urban decay. Adnate has produced a show of epic proportions with larger than life canvases, wooden sculptures and mural work.
NO VACANCY PRESENTS: CHRISTMAS ART MARKET: 4.12.09
On Friday 4 December to Sunday 6 December QV Squarel hosted the No Vacancy’s Art + Design Christmas Market with over 30 stalls featuring local artists, designers and their wares. Works include handmade fashion, books from We Heart Books, toys by Betty+Hamish, sculptures by Nicholas Jones, jewellery from Wah Wah Wears, toys from Cat-Rabbit and much more.
KIRIN PRESENTS: GO FONT UR SELF 23.10.09
EMPIRE ROSE FASHION SHOW: 22.10.09
The empire rose retail store concept houses a selection of iconic international designers including Zamebsi, NomD, Therese Rawsthoine, Fiorina Jewelery and celebrated taxidermist and jeweller Disce Mori by Julia deVille.
Empire Rose continues to evolve and attract a strong following both here and overseas, our sights set firmly on expanding the retail store concept to a future online presence Empire Rose will continue to expand its Australian and international retail empire.
LIFELOUNGE PRESENTS: SOME TYPE OF WONDERFUL 02.10.09
Some Type of Wonderful is a global typographic initiative conceived by Lifelounge in 2008 to showcase the best of the world’s creative talent across the realms of art, design and illustration. Each year 12 artists are selected for their unique approach to the craft and are given an individual typographic design brief based around a month of the year. The artist is asked to interpret the brief in a way that typographically represents what that month specifically means to them. How abstract or literal the interpretation is completely up to them.
NO VACANCY PRESENTS: TWOONE, SO FAR: 10.09.09
A short review by Sean.
After his first successful solo exhibition, 1000 cans, Two One has returned with a vast, equally ambitious and exciting body of work for his new show "So Far".
Filling the entire gallery space are hanging installation works of various size and shape, all with painted motifs of god-like animals, patterns and bones. Instantly you are drawn into the mysterious teachings of Two One's gritty spirituality and there is a sense of wandering through a hallucination. There is beauty and warmth in the earthy tones of paint, flow in the playful lines and forms of the gesturing animals and figures, and a curious contrast in the triangle shaped boards and compartments that house metal parts and images of bones, spines and skulls.
FAT PRESENTS: SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST: 03.09.09
Limited edition tee shirt exhibtion put on from the guys at FAT!
NO VACANCY & GHOSTPATROL PRESENTS: REUNITE AND TRANSMUTE: 28.08.09
A collaboration exhibition:
Sean Edward Whelan and Ghostpatol.
Sean Edward Whelan currently resides in Niigata Japan piloting giant robots.
He spent his formative years with Ghostpatrol in the south of Tasmania.
Reunite and Transmute is the first collection and exhibition of their collaborative
watercolour and pencil works. Previews can be made by apointment here please join both artists for the opening evening this coming Friday the 28th at 6pm.
NO VACANCY POP UP GALLERY: STU MORLEY 18.06.09
Earlier this year, No Vacancy launched a Pop Up Gallery In Singapore, providing 2 Melbourne based artists an opportunity to take an empty urban shell and transform it into a gallery/exhibition. Stu Morley's photographic display, which is an insight into NYC, will be presented similarly as a Pop Up show, transforming an empty space in the QV, into a raw New York style environment.
NO VACANCY POP UP GALLERY: SINGAPORE 21.03.09
No Vacancy set up a Pop Up Art gallery in Singapore over March. The first of its kind in Singapore. Finding an empty space and transforming it into a gallery. The reason of establishing No Vacancy Singapore was to give Melbourne Artists an opportunity and avenue to gain exposure throughout Asia. We hope this will help promote the Australian art scene to a wider audience and promote Australian artists.
LOREAL FASHION WEEK: TRIMAPEE 20.03.09
The interactive fashion show will exhibit the Trimápee Autumn / Winter 09 collection entitled “The Institution”. This will be displayed in a non-conventional and exciting interactive way, that each person who visits the exhibition leaves his or her mark. The lines of fashion, art, gallery, exhibitor and audience will all be merged when Trimápee takes over the NO VACANCY Gallery to present- The Institution.
SUIT UP: 05.02.09
Nineteen Australian artists from Street Art, Comic, and Illustration backgrounds. Suit up was formed as a collaboration in the true sense of the word with four artists working together to create a theme for each suit and bringing stylistic cohesion to the deck as a whole. Each artwork is lavishly detailed and stunning in its own right, playing cards have never looked so good.
ARCH IS BALDING: 05.02.09
Opening the year with the amazing group show, organised by our Lou Lou Klerks. Who did and amazing job of pulling this all together. We had over 20 artists participate in this show, and it was great to give people an opportunity to exhibit in No Vacancy.
VILLAIN CUSTOM TOY SHOW: 14.12.08
FEATURING: AI, ADNATE, BECK WHEELER, BEN LANDERS, CAT RABBIT, CEJIA, CLAIRE TENNANT
CLAUDIO MANTUANO, DAEK, DAVID DUBOIS, DAVID GILL, DABS, DEAM, DEB, DREWSTER, DVATE, ERIN
GHOST PATROL, IKIN, ITCH, JASON JACENKO, JORZZ, KATHERINE DRETZKE, KATIE PAYNE,
KID ZOOM, LAZER FIST, LOUNGE KAT...
RMIT GRADUATE EXHIBITION: 13.12.08
Blind Spot: RMIT Graduate Exhibition [November 2008]
120 stunning photographs captured by 56 graduate students will be on display, showcasing the amazing talents of these students. The photographs encompass several genres of photography, including fashion, advertising, fine art, portrait, photo-journalism, still life and landscape.
NO COMPLY FESTIVAL: 9.12.08
No Comply Festival 2009 was held at No Vacancy.
With 170 individual pieces of art by 80 artists representing a wide variety of disiplines and fields, No Comply 2008 is an unique snapshot of an important moment in time for the international art community with a focus on Australia’s growing global role.
NIOR, FAR & AWAY: 2.10.08
No Vacancy presented the first solo show of Melbourne based artists Nior.
It was an amazing opening night show, and full credit must go out to Nior for all the hard work over the past months to prepare for this spectacular exhibition of new works.
The new collection of work by Nior combines the natural world with a surreal twist.
Using recycled timber as his canvas his paintings depict innocent creatures with detailed fur, feathers and textured colours.
The exhibition also includes a large 3D installation which continues the theme with recycled materials.
LENKO DOODLE SHOW:
Melbourne fashion label, Lenko, invited people to join them in a fun-filled adventure into our collective subconscious.
The show was a celebration of the humble Doodle, an equalising art form available to all, presented as High Art. Crisp presentation and all the frills accorded to a gallery show will characterise this exhibition, where all contributers, regardless of fame, status, age or ability will displayed with equal importance.
I NEVER SAID THAT I WAS BRAVE:
JUSTIN LEE WILLIAMS & ANDREW GORDON: 20 AUGUST - 5 SEPTEMBER 2008
"I never said that I was brave!" is an exhibition of work by Justin Lee Williams and Andrew Gordon.
Both artists gain inspiration from the solitude of their surrounds, Justin in the mountains outside of Melbourne
and Andrew on the coast of Southern Victoria.
CHARACTER WORKSHOPS:
NO VACANCY EDUCATION PROGRAM: 26 - 27 JULY 2008
A two-day workshop with practicing artists Que’ and Drewfunk: whose exceptional talent for drawing and painting attracts acclaim from Melbourne’s street art community. Both Que’ and Drewfunk have exhibited extensively in Melbourne’s galleries, bars, and public spaces, such as city shop fronts and council permitted laneways. In the workshop Que’ and Drewfunk encouraged young people to think critically and creatively about character design.
REKAONE:
REKAONE SOLO SHOW: 29 MAY 2008
Newly added photos from the Reka Solo show are up. Amazing works which were on display for 2 weeks. The show was a huge success, check out the photos!! Some artwork and prints are still available.
No Vacancy:
OPENING NIGHT SHOW: 23RD MAY 2008
Check out the photos from the opening night. With a huge turnout, of over 300 people coming through. The launch of the gallery was a huge success and was a great way to open our doors.
The opening night featured 10 of Melbourne's best artists:
TAI SNAITH, REKA ONE, JUSTIN LEE WILLIAMS, NAILS, BONSAI, TWOONE, PHIBS, MISO, JUNIOR AND GHOSTPATROL.