W 5 - Callum Morton

Biography: Born in Canada, Morton studied architecture and fine arts in Melbourne and subsequently lectured in both as well as sculpture. He began exhibiting in 1989 and has shown work both throughout Australia's major institutions and the world over which includes representing Australia in the 2007 Venice Biennale and the Triennale India in 2004 at which he won a gold medal. Morton has been represented by Anna Schwartz Gallery for over a decade.

Work Type: Sculpture/Installation moving from models of buildings to buildings

Themes: The relationship between people and their built environment: private and public space, reality and illusion, interior and exterior.

Art Movement: Post-modern comment on the modernist dream of the city and its skyscrapers, he references actual architectural works and creates his own connundrum.

CVs:

Anna Schwartz Gallery, 'Callum Morton', viewed at http://www.annaschwartzgallery.com/sitebuilder/works/artists/8/morton,_callum_cv_2009_web.pdf?=m, on 20 August 2009.

Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, 'Callum Morton: Profile', Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, viewed at http://www.roslynoxley9.com.au/artists/27/Callum_Morton/profile/, on 20 August 2009.

Australia Council 2009, 'Artists: Callum Morton', OzArts, viewed at http://www.ozarts.com.au/artists/callum_morton?SQ_PAINT_LAYOUT_NAME=artist_about, on 24 August 2009.

(this site also links to 'similar' artists).

Works:

Anna Schwartz Gallery, 'Callum Morton', viewed at http://www.annaschwartzgallery.com/works/works?artist=8&c=m, on 20 August 2009.

Grotto, 2009:

Materials: Steel, polyurethane, concrete, plaster, fibreglass, glass, vinyl, wood, synthetic polymer paint, light and sound

Exhibiton: 2009-2014, commissioned by Fundament Foundation, Tilburg, The Netherlands

A commission in which Morton created an invisible pavillion in the centre of a Baroque-style garden. Grotto is a Baroque folly, a screen, a cave, a grave and a functional pavilion. By day, its glass creates an illusion of invisibility buy one can enter it finding a cave within that also functions as a cafe. By night the illlusion is reversed: the mirror becomes invisible and the grotto's shape is visible looking something like a burial mound. Morton's design both clashes with and is continuous with its Baroque surrounds.


Design, visiting:
Fundament Foundation 2009, Grotto, viewed at http://www.grotto09.nl/en/grotto/design, on 20 August 2009.


Photos:
Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery 2009, 'Callum Morton: Grotto', Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, viewed at http://www.roslynoxley9.com.au/artists/27/Callum_Morton/1175/42581/, on 20 August 2009.


Habitat, 2003:

Materials: wood, acrylic paint, aluminium, sheet magnets, lights, sound74 × 110 × 130cm(each) six parts; plinth 90 x 648 x 150 cm

Exhibition: 2003 Melbourne International Festival, NGV

Influence: Moshe Safdie who built a much admired pavillon of 'little boxes' on Montreal's harbourside for the 1967 Expo in Canada whose theme included housing in a crowded world. note that this project went massively over-budget and, at the time, did not deliver the promised facilities.

Execution: 1:50 scale architectural model of Safdie's 'Habitat', with light and sound to suggest a day in the life of the housing complex.

Theme: Juxtaposition of a dream of community living is juxtaposed versus a diminutive scale and accelerated time frame, its inmates caught in a cycle of unending routine. Unfulfilled voyuerism.


Influence, Moshe Safdie:
CBC Digital Archives 2009, Moshe Safdie: Hero of Habitiat, viewed at http://archives.cbc.ca/arts_entertainment/architecture/topics/1427/, on 24 august 2009.

Complexe de la cité du havre, Habitat 67, viewed at http://www.habitat67.com/origine_en_.html, on 24 August 2009.

Description:
The Ian Potter Centre NGCAustralia, Habitat: The Installation, viewed at http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/habitat/inst.shtml, on 20 August 2009.

National Gallery of Victoria 2003, Habitat: Callum Morton, viewed at http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/habitat/resources/habitatrb.pdf, on 20 August 2009.

Review article:
Taylor Alex 2003, 'Habitat: Callum Morton, ArtLink, Vol 23 No 3 , downloaded from
http://www.artlink.com.au/articles.cfm?id=2328, on 20 August 2009.


Vahalla, 2007:

Materials: Steel, aluminium, polystyrene, epoxy resin, silicon, marble, glass, wood, cement sheet, plasterboard, airconditioner, pvc pipe, corrugated plastic, acrylic paint, lights, sound.
465 × 1475 × 850 cm

Themes: A reflection of reality: his childhood home and memories, ruined. But also: contemporary instability. Inspired by war. Evidence of presence and destruction. Cinematic in its narrative: "like a ghost-ride in the theme park of my life"

Exhibition: 2007 Australian pavillion, Venice Beinnale (and now part of the 2009 Melbourne International Festival).

Description:http://www.melbournefestival.com.au/program/production?id=3581&idx=65&max=67/

Artist's Statement:
Australia Council 2007a, 'Callum Morton: Vahalla', Au3 Venice Biennale 2007, viewed at http://2007.australiavenicebiennale.com.au/content/view/38/121/, on 20 August 2009.

Floor Brochure:
Australia Council 2007b, 'Callum Morton: Vahalla', Au3 Venice Biennale 2007 , viewed on http://2007.australiavenicebiennale.com.au/images/stories/files/cm_floor_brochure.pdf, on 20 August 2009.