David Noonan
12 September – 26 October 2008
64 Chisenhale Road
London E3 5QZ
+44 (0)20 8981 4518
mail [at] chisenhale.org.uk
Chisenhale is pleased to announce a new commission by David Noonan and his first solo public exhibition in London. Noonan presents a series of works comprising monochrome silkscreen on linen collages and clusters of freestanding figurative sculptures which expand his graphic images into a more theatrical space of display.
Noonan often works with found photographic imagery taken from performance manuals, textile patterns and archive photographs to make densely layered montages. These works at once suggest specific moments in time and invoke disorientating a-temporal spaces in which myriad possible narratives emerge. The large-scale canvases framing this exhibition depict scenes of role-playing, gesturing characters, and masked figures set within stage-like spaces. Printed on coarsely woven jute, collaged fabric elements applied to the surface of the canvases further signal the cutting and splicing of images.
Noonan’s new suite of figurative sculptures, comprise life size wooden silhouettes faced with printed images of characters performing choreographed movements. While the figurative image suggests a body in space, the works’ two dimensional cut-out supports insist on an overriding flatness which lends them an architectural quality – as stand-ins for actual performers and as a means by which to physically navigate the exhibition space.
David Noonan has had solo exhibitions at Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney (2008), Palais de Tokyo, Paris (2007), David Kordansky, Los Angeles (2006), HOTEL, London (2005) and Foxy Production, New York (2004). He is included in the Busan Biennial, Korea (2008) and has a forthcoming solo exhibition at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA), Melbourne (2009).
To accompany the exhibition, David Noonan has created a new limited edition embossed screen-print. Please contact the gallery for more details.
Talks and events
Saturday 20 September, 3pm Jennifer Higgie, Co-editor, frieze discusses ‘some facts, theories and speculations’ in response to David Noonan’s exhibition.
Thursday 2 October, 7:30pm A screening of films employing found footage selected by David Noonan.
Saturday 4 October, 3pm Melissa Gronlund, Associate editor, Afterall talks about themes and concerns emerging from the exhibition.
Opening hours
Wednesday – Sunday, 1pm – 6pm
Thursday 2 October, open until 9pm
This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding advisory body
