Creature Feature

Monstrosity’s new group show Creature Feature is like entering a
very funky house of horrors.

The quirky showcase is an impressively high standard, but way too much
fun to be for art wankers. Curator Rebecca Murphy brings together a
diverse range of works in painting, drawing, sculpture and digital
imaging, crammed into every nook of the gallery in tasty colours.
Perhaps not so tasty were the hors d’oeuvres served on opening night:
silk worms, crickets and other edible insects along with green slime
beverages. A good start to Murphy’s intention of having a show, in her
words, that is “…creepy, gory, taxidermy, kitsch!”

The works in the front room of the gallery could well have been borrowed
from Wednesday Adams’ bedroom. Sam Octigan’s Untitled is a
beautifully rendered, Dark-Crystal-inspired pencil drawing; Zan Von
Zed’s Olivia a gorgeous oil portrait of a melancholic half woman,
half creature; and Dan Whithey’s Frank a psychedelic, acrylic
Frankenstein. Lauren Carney’s detailed comic book style illustrations
are stunning, alongside Sol’s compelling graphic image - Never Alone
(A cup of tea) printed on cotton rag.

Room two houses the works of extreme sizes: tiny through to enormous.
Nigel Sense’s tongue in cheek Proper sits grandly upon an entire
wall, opposite an assortment of miniscule, comical critters, sculpted by
various artists; floating nearby are some disturbing fur works by West
(they look like the cookie monster’s remains); and completing the
circle, slightly frightening (but curiously cute) oil painted creatures
by Yulia Pustoshkina.

Finally the back room beckons. Here is housed the juxtaposed felt work
Skull fuck! by prolific Sydney street artist Cupco. Some of Dr
Rev’s work is here too- striking realist images painted in the artist’s
blood. On opening night he was also signing blood autographs. (Don’t
worry, he seals them up so it stays hygienic!) I couldn’t resist asking
him the obvious question: “Why?” to which Rev replied “For a giggle,
something different!” Well, the choice of medium certainly is different,
and that made me giggle. It’s probably also a good summary of most of
the works in the show.

Even the abovementioned are only a slice of the smorgasbord on display
at Monstrosity this month. Featuring an array of excellent works by
emerging artists at affordable prices, this show could possibly hold
gift ideas for that arty type this Christmas. But even if only to
experience the thrill of seeing some oddball paraphernalia, it worth
taking a walk on this wild side.

Creature Feature runs until Friday 17th December, 2010.
Gallery hours Wednesday to Sunday, 11am-6pm.