three, 2015

This solo exhibition of works by Andy Mullens uses found photographs, stitch, and sculpture to explore the artist’s Vietnamese heritage. Inspired by her first visit to Saigon, the birthplace of her mother, Mullens examines her negotiation of her cultural identity. Through her art Mullens reworks cultural symbols, reinterpreting them through a lens that she feels is both/neither Vietnamese and/or Australian. She employs thread, re-purposed objects, and found photographs purchased from flea markets in Vietnam to create her discussion. Mullens appropriates the Vietnamese national colours of gold and red, while also playing with transparency and barely-visible works. She references the pre-war Vietnamese flag of three horizontal, red bands on a gold background, and the Vietnamese “lucky number 3.” Mullens works to draw connections to family, nationhood and self, using her artworks to reflect on what it means to experience a cultural identity that is apart of and a part from.


The exhibition opened June 11 2015. It was sponsored by Mallaluka Wines, Barrio Collective and Ainslie IGA.

List of works: 

Veil, 2015
cotton thread on found photographs
8.9 x 6.4 cm / 13.9 x 9 cm / 6.8 x 9 cm
 
Looking back, 2015
mirrors
40 cm diameter each
 
Common ground, 2015
wax from prayer candles
12.5 x 6 x 6 cm each
 
Shroud, 2015
metallic thread on found photographs
6.2 x 4.3 cm / 13.9 x 8.9 cm / 8.9 x 13.9 cm
 
What was, 2015
relief on paper, framed
12.7 x 12.7 cm each
 
Still, 2015
silk, fluorescence lights, power cord, brackets, metallic thread
dimensions varied
 
Almost, 2015
nails, metallic thread
dimensions varied

 
Familiar, 2015
rice paper
21.6 cm diameter each
 
Idle, 2015
wax from prayer candles
0.5 x 23.7 x 0.5 cm each
 
Exchange, 2015
currency from pre-war Vietnam, cotton thread
6.8 x 57 cm approx. each
 
Reconstructed ocean, 2015
water, sea salt, glass jars
18 x 8.5 x 8.5 cm each
 
Mask, 2015
cotton thread on found photographs
13.9 x 9 cm / 6.8 x 8.8 cm / 4.6 x 3.6 cm
 
Altar of conversation, 2015
light bulbs, cord
dimensions varied
 
One side to the other, 2015
perspex
19.2 cm diameter each
 
Train of thought, 2015
cotton thread
dimensions varied