Artists join forces for exhibition

THREE Ballarat-based contemporary artists have combined their talents for a new exhibition, titled Triage, at the Kank Wolverang Art Space.

Diokno Pasilan, Bacondrum AKA Stuart Walsh, and Merda AKA Jay Rankine have explored a variety of mediums in a non-traditional approach.

Pasilan, who splits time between living in Ballarat and the Philippines, said the artists were brought together by their desire to support an emerging art venue.

“It was a very open idea for us to have a show in a relatively new space in Ballarat. It’s a nice kind of underground space for art,” he said.

“From there we created our own work; we don’t have a specific theme.”

Having turned his hand to everything from painting, and printmaking, to installation, performance and music, Pasilan’s many solo projects have featured in venues across the Philippines and Australia.

His previous solo exhibition, a presentation of prints and sculptures, was held in August last year at the Art Gallery of Ballarat.

A product of the early 90s Melbourne stencil art scene, Bacondrum has been a mainstay of public art projects, events and collaborative murals across Melbourne and regional Victoria for more than 20 years.

His many public and commercial illustrative and design works have included digital commissions, murals on metropolitan streetscapes, skate parks, suburban garages and fences.

He has also participated in a range of formal exhibitions across Victoria, including at the Art Gallery of Ballarat’s Romancing the Skull (2017) and Locals Rule (2018) exhibitions and White Night Ballarat events from 2016 to 2019.

A self-taught visual artist and pioneer of Melbourne’s early graffiti scene, Merda’s public art career has spanned 36 years.

During the late 1980s, he helped bring 3D lettering styles to the world, firmly establishing Australia’s graffiti reputation and influencing a generation.

Featured in multiple international street art publications, his work has featured in collections including the National Gallery of Australia.

He has also held numerous solo and group exhibitions at the Art Gallery of Ballarat and the National Gallery of Victoria.

Given their diverse art backgrounds and leanings, Pasilan said the opportunity to work with artists exploring different mediums had always appealed to him.

“It’s been wonderful building up relationships with other artists, and in that regard, Ballarat has helped all of us find other people we can relate to in this kind of practice,” he said.

“There are a lot of artists here, but somehow you have to find your own way, where you gravitate to artists with similar interests.

“I have been practicing art for a long time and have just been back in the Philippines and Singapore, where I had an exhibition, so for me it’s nice to share locally here.”

He said the early response to the exhibition was pleasing. Triage opened on 19 April and is on show until 17 May.

Kank Wolverang Art Space is open from 11am to 5pm Thursdays to Sundays and is located at 30 Main Road, Bakery Hill.