Badda dan dem star - New paintings by
Robin Clare
Opening 30th November 2012 6pm at China Heights
Gallery, L3, 16-28 Foster St, Surry Hills,
Sydney
Sydney based Jamaican artist Robin
Clare's new work continues to explore Jamaican pop culture with a series of
large scale cinematic images combining elements inspired by vintage comicbooks
and elements of dancehall culture, imagery and
songs.
Inspired
by stories told to her by her grandparents and parents about childhoods spent
eagerly anticipating the arrival of the latest comic book imports from the US,
Robin has incorporated the theme into her recent paintings. American culture has
always influenced the island of Jamaica, just as in turn Jamaican culture has
managed to influence American culture through fashion, dance styles and music
influences. Robin's recent paintings explore this cultural clash through large
scale romanticised cinematic poster like images taking inspiration from vintage
comic book imagery and dancehall culture. The work specifically references a
short run comic from the 1950's titled Bulls Eye by comic artist team Simon and
Kirby. The comic followed the adventures of a western sharp shooter who also
went by the name Bulls Eye. Her choice to focus on the western theme was mainly
led by early dub and ska music titles which often referenced western movies and
characters. Robin was also inspired by one of her favourite movies, Jamaican
cult classic 'The Harder They Come'. This tells the harrowing story of folk hero
and gun slinging outlaw Ivanhoe Rhyging Martin.
When: Opening Friday
November 30th 2012 6pm - 9pm continued daily until Sunday December 2nd 12 -
5pm
