biography of Richard Denny

Richard Denny

Biography | Artwork

Richard Denny is a Melbourne-based artist whose dynamic work contains mixed media including detailed vintage maps from around the world, gleaned and collected on his numerous travels and habitations. Since his departure from photography as his primary chosen medium in 2008, his work has been exhibited in London, Barcelona, Sydney, The Gold Coast and Melbourne. His highly successful 10 solo shows have facilitated the sale of over 200 works.

Artist Statement

A ‘trap’ street is a misrepresentation on a map. It is either accidental or an intended copyright trap. Paper towns and mountains have been placed on maps for the same purpose. Presented here are some characters and stories from a Paper Town. This is the 11th solo show from the broader series “ Is the map the territory” which was first conceived in France in 2008; once whilst meandering through the streets of an unusually snow covered Marseille, Richard Denny discovered an abandoned box of maps. Upon further examination, it was an extensive collection, holding portrayals of most regions of France.

As the overlord of general semantics Alfred Korzybski once said: “A map is not the territory”. This highlights the notion that one can peer at a map, and understand the layout of the land via it, but the map will only ever signify the geography of what is there, never accurately describe its nuances. By deploying the found maps as an actual canvas, and a basis for his characters, Richard Denny has found a means of dripping flavours of personality and territory over the maps. Using the lines of contour, river, border and road, Richard Denny paints in his own lines, shapes and textures. Later, from these cartographic cross-hatchings emerge characters representing people, daily experiences and settings.

The Art of Spain: Artist Statement

A series of work , about an imaginary holiday taken on The Catalan coast. The holiday makers were, George Orwell, Pablo Picasso and Andre Derain. The work represents what they might have seen and heard.

EDUCATION

1993-2007 Freelance photographer based in Australia and Europe
1995 Graduated from RMIT, Melbourne, BA (Photography with high distinction)

1989 Moved to Melbourne, Australia, commenced painting and photography

EXHIBITIONS

Solo Exhibitions
2012 19 KAREN Contemporary Artspace, Gold Coast, "Paper Towns"

2011 C3 Gallery, Melbourne, "Recalling Territory"
2011 Rooftop art space, Melbourne, "The Shipping Forecast"

2011 Abbotsford Convent Arts, Melbourne - "Tea With The Fat Badjer"
2011 Breathing Colours Art Gallery, Balmain, Sydney "Cartographic Cross Hatchings"
2011 Chapman and Baily Gallery, Melbourne "Liminality"
2010 Per square metre Gallery, Melbourne, "is the map the territory"
2010 C3 Contemporary Art Space, Melbourne, "In the shadow of Trellick Tower"

2010 Breathing colours Gallery, 2010 Sydney, "Defense d'afficher"
2010 Chapman and Bailey Gallery, Melbourne, "The Visitors"

2010 Shopfront Gallery, Newcastle, "in the shadow of Trellick Tower"

Group Exhibitions

2012 19 KAREn Contemporary Artspace, Gold Coast, "The Art of Spain"

2011 St Heliers gallery, Melbourne, "Summer Salon"

2011 Untitled BCN Gallery, Barcelona, Spain, "6 x 6"

2011 19 KAREN Contemporary Artspace, Gold Coast, "Homage to Frida"

2010 Per Square Metre Gallery, Melbourne ."Melburn representz"

2010 SJS Gallery, Melbourne, "Freebrains"
2010 Gipps Street Gallery, Melbourne "Art for sharks" Charity Auction, Australian Marine Conservation Society

2010 St Hellier's Gallery, Melbourne, Summer Salon, Melbourne, "Inaudible"
2010 St Hellier's Gallery, Melbourne, "Summer Salon"

2010 Breathing Colours, Sydney, " a little bit of summer"
2010 Australian Centre for Contemporary Art ,Melbourne, "The Lighthouse Foundation Annual Auction"

2008-2009 Based in Marseille and London

ACHIEVEMENTS AND EXPERIENCE

Winner of the ADFAS YARRA Encouragement Prize for his collaborative work with Ralf Kempken “Otto Goes To Brown Town”.

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Commercial commissions
2011 Abbotsford Convent bakery
2011 Bill Grainger’s Tokyo restaurant
2011 Toni and Guy hair salon South Yarra
2011 La Grenache wine label, vintage 2011

2010 La Grenache, vintage 2010, Wine label