In his first major showing since last year’s critically acclaimed survey for the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne’s Darren Sylvester creates a dream-like installation, hovering intriguingly between prop house, violence and desire.
Using a series of large-scale hyper-real images, the artist draws us into his staged environments: a street scene where clichéd invitations lit up in neon offer windows to another realm and new opportunities; the interior of a home with an oversized prop staircase, where a model in stilettos perches armed with a shard of ripped balustrade.
Scattered throughout the gallery, three Cartier-influenced rose-gold patinated carved wooden sculptures simulate self-defence weapons against an enemy unseen.
Inspired by his late-night wanderings through New York city, and his all-too-real experience of an aggravated home burglary late last year, Balustrade Stake is a continuation of Sylvester’s exploration of mortality, and a timely reflection on the impotence of the weapons with which we are able to arm ourselves against the inevitable and the unknown.
The exhibition opens today Thursday 4th June at Sullivan+Strumpf Sydney, 799 Elizabeth Street, Zetland. Or view online at https://www.
