Menu 
Arts & Entertainment Visual Arts Art matters
Arts & Entertainment Visual Arts Art matters
| Art matters |
| Written by Lucy Elliott |
| Wednesday, 27 May 2009 12:49 |
 The dynamism of modern life and the growth of industry are captured evocatively in John Santucci’s current solo show. Having recently moved to the Western suburbs, Santucci became fascinated by the views he had of the docklands, the Bolte Bridge, the wharf and container areas. Each canvas is filled with images of buildings, ships and roads. Smoke stacks billow and waves look like they are gently moving across waters. Yet there is, in Santucci’s works, an odd stillness. The works show progress but there is no sign of a human presence. It’s a strange combination of a great deal going on and nothing going on at all. This is definitely part of the works’ appeal. Santucci draws on his European background, Catholic upbringing, apprenticeship in the steel industry and many years as a prop designer in the film industry for his paintings, which have a two-dimensional quality reminiscent of illustrative art. He paints recognizable images, but also breaks them down into dynamic non-naturalistic structures. The works have a powerful physicality that invites the viewer into the consciousness of the artist, his understanding of the natural and built environments around him. It’s as if you are peering through a lens looking into a scene from a movie. Santucci encourages this by shading the edges of many of the works. The effect narrows our vision and allows us to concentrate on the scenes he portrays. Despite the industrial subject matter, in all the works there is a softness to the images. Santucci’s works reminded me of Orphist artists such as Ferdinand Leger, who, working in the early 1900’s, moved away from depicting external manifestations of human life and turned towards depictions of contemporary technological change. Santucci’s works will no doubt appeal to many viewers. The success of this latest solo show is testament to this. John Santucci at Green-Wood Gallery 1 Hotham Street, South Melbourne (Until June 7) www.green-woodgallery.com Classical style Latitude 37 is an exciting new baroque trio, whose members were drawn together by their passion for historically informed performance of 17th and 18th century music. If you're looking for early music performers with high artistic aims, accompanied by technique to burn, fire in their bellies and belief in music performance as the living art it’s meant to be, Latitude 37 will enthral you. Melbourne Recital Centre and MCV are giving away the ultimate night out for three lucky winners and their five friends at Melbourne Recital Centre. The prize includes six of the best seats to Stylus Phantasticus, six programs, and six entree cards to the exclusive after-show reception – all for three lucky winners. We also have 10 double passes to the performance for runners up. Stylus Phantasticus with Latitude 37 12 June at 7.30pm Melbourne Recital Centre Cnr Southbank Boulevards & Sturt Street melbournerecital.com.au To enter, submit your first and last name and mobile number to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Winners will be notified by Monday June 8, 2009. A bonus subscription to the Melbourne Recital Centre eNewsletter will be included as part of the winners’ prize package.
Set as favorite
Bookmark
Email This
Comments (0)
 Write comment
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed