A discernible phenomenon of the Australian art scene in the 1990s is the proliferation of artist-run spaces. Faced with a depressed art market and a highly contracted commercial gallery scene, many artists have banded together to organize alternative exhibition spaces. These spaces exist precariously on the periphery of the art world, attracting some mainstream public interest and even the odd sale. The real importance of these galleries lies, however, in their role as a forum for young artists.
In the last few months Sydney has seen two more artistrun spaces open their doors, Herringbone and Particle Contemporary Exhibition Space. Herringbone has risen from the ashes of the now defunct Pendulum Gallery while Particle—previously located in a shop-front in Clovelly—has reopened in a remodelled shed in Annandale after an unceremonious eviction and a protracted closure. Both these venues are a welcome addition to the already buoyant alternative gallery scene in Sydney which includes South, CBD, First Draft, Side-On Studios and 151 Regent Street.
The inaugural exhibition at the new Particle space—which will also be used for film, performance, poetry and drawing classes—was a sculptural installation by Stephen Hamper. Titled Interactive Pneumatic Kinetics, this work consists of a huge multi-framed structure which is powered by air pressure and which opens and closes automatically. Hamper has always been obsessed with time, technology and the elemental forces of nature. His early paintings combined equations, engineering blueprints and technical drawings with clocks and other gadgets while his more recent installations have begun to explore new technologies like robotics and pneumatics.
Interactive Pneumatic Kinetics consists of three alloy frames of varying size connected by integrated pneumatic piping. The three frames sit flat against the wall