TODD FULLER There’s no place like Rome 20 August to 7 September 2013
Todd Fuller, ‘siege’ 2013, charcoal and acrylic on paper, 48 x 64cm
Todd Fuller, ‘Postcards to the Pope’ 2013, film still
There’s No Place Like Rome Awarded the 2013 William Fletcher Travelling Fellowship’s residency to the British School at Rome, Todd Fuller was given the opportunity to immerse himself in the art and culture of Rome. The body of work that emerged speaks to his experiences; drawing inspiration from sculptural masters including Giacomo Manzu and Ignazio Jacometti, breathing life and his contemporary perspective
into their work. Using the current affairs in Rome as his stimuli, Fuller found an unlikely muse. His recent work features a Pope as the protagonist, however the pieces look beyond the role of this influential figure, exercising themes of power, expectation and burden. Fuller’s two films ‘Papal Pardon’ and ‘Postcards to the Pope’ investigate aspects of authority via the animation of a compassionate, overwhelmed and lonesome man, not
Todd Fuller, ‘Postcards to the Pope’ 2013, film still
the higher power of typical representations. In the latter film, Fuller rendered the story of a leader overburdened by his duty to answer the prayers addressed to him. This is articulated through the materialisation of prayers into postcards that come flooding through his windows, engulfing the figure via their sheer mass. There is a clear sense of empathy expressed for this leader, perhaps a comment on the encumbrance of correspondence surely felt by Fuller, a young man who is an artist, curator and
writer among many other guises. ‘Papal Pardon’ is the prequel to ‘Postcards to the Pope’ and is a reflection on the political, ethical, and moral debates that currently surround the modern day church, by taking the Pope out of isolation and pushing him into the queues and crowds of Vatican City. These major filmic components to Fuller’s Roman body of work will be accompanied by other significant pieces
Todd Fuller, ‘Postcards to the Pope’ 2013, film still
that confront further affairs surrounding the Church, such as the timely issue of sexuality within Catholicism. Fuller’s goals to see everything, do everything and to grow have clearly been met to an admirable capacity. Fuller also aimed to confront his fear of colour, an understandable product of uneasiness for someone who is colour-blind. As the protagonist in ‘Postcards to the Pope’ flees the Vatican, down a spiral staircase, and drives away in a manual car, the scene turns into full colour – an expression of two
men overcoming obstacles. In Fuller’s case, extending his palette beyond black, white and grey and in the case of this figure of leadership, finding the strength to just let go. Olivia Welch
TODD FULLER SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2013 There’s no place like Rome, Brenda May Gallery. 2012 Somewhere in between, Brenda May Gallery, Sydney. One and Only, Brenda May Gallery, Sydney. 2011 Tense, Brenda May Gallery, Sydney. In Solitude, Deakin University, Melbourne. 2010 Storyline, Brunswick St. Gallery, Melbourne. GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2013 Teaf13, installation festival, South Korea. Mighty Small, Brenda May Gallery, Sydney. Please Be Quiet, The British School at Rome Gallery, Rome. Spazi Aperti, Romanian Academy, Rome. Paper Works II, Brenda May Gallery, Sydney. Sculpture 2013, Brenda May Gallery, Sydney. 2012-3 Langue, Peacock Gallery, Auburn. 2012 The 15th Asian Art Biennale, Bangladesh. The Sculpted World, Whitehorse Art Space, VIC. Chiaroscuro, Brenda May Gallery, Sydney. In The Mirror, Brenda May Gallery, Sydney. Major Artists, Major Works, Brenda May Gallery, Sydney. Sculpture at Scenic World, Katoomba, NSW. Sculpture 2012, Brenda May Gallery, Sydney. 2011 The rest is silence, DEATH BE KIND gallery project, Upstairs at The Alderman, Melbourne. In Situ, Mosman Festival of Sculpture & Installation, Sydney. Body Language, Brenda May Gallery, Sydney. Lust, Brenda May Gallery, Sydney. Art + Humour Me, Brenda May Gallery, Sydney. Sculpture 2011, Brenda May Gallery, Sydney. Double Lives; Duple Trials, Malt Cross Gallery, Nottingham. Emerging Artist 2011, Linner Gallery, New York. 2010 Festival on Wheels, Monstrosity Gallery, Sydney. Headgear, Mils Gallery, Sydney. Portrait, Monstrosity Gallery, Woolloomooloo, Sydney. Monstrosity, Monstrosity Gallery Woolloomooloo, Sydney. 2009 NAS Degree show, National Art School, Sydney. Meat - second serving, Newcastle Art Space. Watt Artists, Watt Space Gallery, Newcastle. Emerging, Gosford Regional Gallery. Idaho the exhibition, Pine St. Gallery, Sydney. On an Island, National Art School and Sydney Harbour Trust, Cockatoo Island, Sydney.
B R E N D A M AY
SELECTED PRIZES + RESIDENCIES 2013 Finalist, Hazelhurst Art on Paper Award. Residency – William Fletcher Travelling Fellowship to Rome. Finalist, Emerging prize, Gosford Regional Gallery. Artist in Residence- Sydney Grammar School. 2012 Honourable Mention, The 15th Asian Art Biennale, Bangladesh. Winner, Fisher’s Ghost Art Award for sculpture. Finalist Kedumba Drawing Prize Finalist Adelaide Perry Drawing Prize Finalist Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award Finalist, Wilson Visual Arts Award. Finalist, Paul Guest Prize, Bendigo Art Gallery. 2011 Art Start Grant recipient, Australia Council. Queen St. Studio residency, Fraser studios. Finalist, RBS Emerging Artist Award. Finalist, Sculpture at Scenic World. Finalist, Deakin University Contemporary Small Sculpture Award. Finalist, ColongeOFF VII international videoart festival. Finalist, Noosa Regional Travelling Scholarship. Equal First, Deakin University Award, Emerging Artist Awards, Walker St Gallery, Melbourne. 2010-11 Residency - Storrier/Onslow Cité Des Arts, Paris. 2010 First place, Newcastle Emerging Artist Prize, sculpture category. Finalist, National Youth Self Portrait Prize, National Portrait Gallery, Canberra. Finalist, Mount Eyre Vineyard Prize, Rex Livingston Art Dealer. Ethical Art Prize, Tap Gallery. National Finalist, Adelaide Perry Drawing prize. 2009 First Place, Lloyd Rees Memorial Youth Art Prize. Mark Henry Cain Award. Australian Bronze Award, NAS. Nava Ignition Award-professional practice. Finalist, Churchie, Nat’l Emerging Artist Prize, Top 11 Moving Image. COLLECTIONS Artbank; Newcastle Art Gallery, NSW; Museum of Contemporary Art Library Collection, Sydney; Deakin University Art Gallery; Sydney Harbour Trust collection; National Art School Archive; Lane Cove Council; Jackson Lalic Lawyers; Private Collections in Australia, China, England, France and Hong Kong.
G A L L E R Y
2 D a n k s S t r e e t Wa t e r l o o N S W A u s t r a l i a 2 0 1 7 www.brendamaygallery.com.au info@brendamaygallery.com.au tues, thurs, fri 11-6pm wed 11-7pm sat 10-6pm t. 02 9318 1122