thurston moore and marco fusinato
The idea of exploring 'experience' becomes apparent in TM/MF, the first collaborative project between Melbourne based artist Marco Fusinato and American musician Thurston Moore (of 'Sonic Youth' fame). The relationship between monochrome painting and experimental music continues to connect art and 'reality' for Fusinato, as he stated in an interview with Ben Curnow in 1998,
The idea is to approximate the realism that exists in my paintings. The reality of existing in the complexity of the 'real' world and dealing with that given situation; the chaos, the speed, the banality: a reality in terms of truth and positive action. For example, my paintings are produced as quickly as possible with what's at hand, whether it's a plastic bag, a coke can, a roller or a cheap brush where the hairs fall out. This process is primarily about energy, not equipment.
‘Experience' in the form of rapid production is the motivating force behind the concerns of both artists in the project. However for the viewer the experience of confronting this unrefined method of production can be quite destabilising. Positioned in the centre of the white space of the gallery is a musical roadcase upon which a television monitor is placed. On screen we see a video of Moore playing ten experimental guitar solos. These pieces are brief, loud and discordant, produced by using everyday objects which reflect Fusinato's painting style. Numbered in relationship with these experimental distortions are ten red monochrome paintings by Fusinato positioned to surround the space. Always painted red, Fusinato's monochromes extend his idea of the 'everyday' by using standard sizes of masonite and tins of paint poured onto the surface.
The design of the project as a