Week #2: Frontier Imaginaries: Tom Nicholson

Frontier Imaginaries

Exhibition by Vivian Zhurl

Exhibition Postcard - "Frontier Imaginaries", 2016

"Scenes for an archipelago" by Tom Nicholson

Frontier Imaginaries is an exhibition that brings together Australian and Indigenous artists to discuss concepts surrounding the era of globalisation. Tom Nicholson is a Melbourne based artist that works across different mediums to produce mixed media installations. Scenes for an archipelago is the second work in a series created for this exhibition. It's a work that spans itself over two rooms and consists of 12 screens and 65 figures.This work echoes the historical diorama created by Indonesian artist, Sunarso. 

Nicholson has created figures of people that he interviewed while in Indonesia, these interviews are on the screens in the second room. All of the figures are small scale and are the same colour, white. Nicholson seeks to bring forward the issues that these people deal with into the public domain. Issues surrounding globalisation and what refugees go through. 

It's interesting to note that each of the figures are the same colour. This creates a sense of unity throughout the work and the colour almost creates a sense of innocence. This allows the viewer to relate to the work on their own level and  not have it defined by race or colour. This loss of colour is crucial to help bring these issues into the public space. It's 2016 and globalisation is a major part of our lives now. 

"Scenes for an archipelago", 2015-16, Tom Nicholson

"Scenes for an archipelago", 2015-16, Tom Nicholson

"Scenes for an archipelago", 2015-16, Tom Nicholson