A New Director for the NGV

New NGV Director Tony Elwood

The National Gallery of Victoria’s worst kept secret was confirmed today following the announcement that Tony Elwood will be taking over from Gerard Vaughan as the new Director of the institution.  Elwood’s no stranger to the NGV, having worked there as Assistant Director before taking up his current position as Director of the Queensland Art Gallery / Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane.  Elwood starts his new role on August 1st.  His replacement in Brisbane is yet to be found.

Roger Ballen gets FREEKY

South African photographer Roger Ballen has made a music video for Cape Town rappers Die Antwoord. In ‘I FINK U FREEKY’ (above) the band’s love of all things ‘zef‘ is fused with gritty black and white imagery typical of the photographer’s  style.  Ballen focuses on those who occupy the very fringes of society, and Die Antwoord vocalists Ninja and Yo-Landi inhabit this landscape with ease.

It seems that unsettling black and white music videos directed by local artists are the style du jour in South Africa, with photographer Pieter Hugo recently collaborating with another Cape Town musician – Spoek Mathambo – on his cover of Joy Division’s ‘Control‘.

(And if the insistent rapping of Die Antwoord is to your taste, you can see them perform at The Prince of Wales Bandroom in Melbourne next Wednesday).

Hot Photo Friday – Emma Thomson

Emma Thomson, 'The Entertainer', 2006

Galerie pompom

Ron and George Adams (the duo behind Sydney-based artist run initiative MOP projects) are about to launch a new commercial venture in Chippendale.  Concentrating on contemporary Australian practice, Galerie pompom opens on the 6th of March with a group exhibition featuring work by each of their represented artists, including MOP curator/artist Nana Ohnesorge and former Tristian Koenig Gallery artist Heath Franco.

Some recent work by Gary Hume

'Paradise Painting', 2011

'Horizon', 2011

'Bad Tooth', 2011

All works from Gary Hume, An Indifferent Owl, at White Cube, Mason’s Yard / Hoxton Square, until February 25th.

Introducing Professor Morton

Callum Morton

Callum Morton has been announced as the new Head of Fine Art at Monash University in Melbourne.  The artist, represented in Australia by Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery and Anna Schwartz, will teach and provide ‘visionary leadership’ at the University three days a week.  His position commences next month.

Brief Encounters

A new feature-length documentary about American photographer Gregory Crewdson is set to launch at South by Southwest next month.  Filmed over a 10-year period by Director Ben Shapiro, ‘Gregory Crewdson: Brief Encounters’ follows the artist on his epic movie-style photo-shoots, often involving crews of up to 60 people.  Crewdson specializes in large-format, cinematic psychodramas, and the film focuses on the development of his key series, ‘Beneath the Roses’; a body of work that conveys American life gone dramatically, inexplicably, wrong.

Hot Photo Friday – Graciela Iturbide

Graciela Iturbide, 'Mujer Angel (Angel Woman), Sonora Desert', 1980

More Rubber

'The Blue Room', 1995

'Christmas Suit', 1995

'Rubber Fetish', 1994

All works by Ava Seymour from the series Rubber Love, 1994-5

Rubber Love

Condom wrappers featuring designs by Keith Haring, Tim Noble & Sue Webster and Matt Collishaw

‘Sex and relationships’ is the imaginative theme of the second issue of the new Dasha Zhukova-backed art/fashion magazine Garage.  Following on from the series of artist-designed temporary tattoos that accompanied the first issue, the uber-collector has selected a new bunch of artists to decorate condom packets for issue 2.  The designer prophylactics (included in each magazine) feature artwork by the late Keith Haring, Tim Noble and Sue Webster and Matt Collishaw.  But the idea is by no means unique, with Third Drawer Down launching a similar campaign here in Melbourne last year.