“Strangefellows”
Claire Lambe and Lisa Young
13 Sept → 12 Oct 2013

Strangefellows is a collaboration between Claire Lambe and Lisa Young.

The collaboration is a response and consequence of a recent trip to Europe. This was ostensibly an art trawl through galleries both contemporary and traditional, a privileged chance to experience something generally seen only through books, magazines and websites. Their interest encompassed not only art but also explored a shared interest in the decorative arts, architecture and interior display.

A particular highlight was the Paris Musee des Arts Decoratifs. At the museum the artists saw the whole room reinstallation of the study designed by architect Pierre Chareau. Designed by Pierre for his own use, this sensuous and brooding space became a defining moment. Both artists saw the possibilities of incorporating multiple elements – sculpture, drawing, painting into a deliberated master/host structure or room. This was a return for both artists to previous work involving rooms, interiors and furniture, and also a chance to incorporate recent art concerns.

Claire Lambe was born in Macclesfield, United Kingdom in 1962, she lives and works in Melbourne and is represented by Sarah Scout. Lambe received her Master of Fine Arts at Goldsmiths, London in 1995, undertook a postgraduate year at the University of New South Wales, Sydney in 1990 and completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts at Bristol College of Art, Bristol, United Kingdom in 1985. In 2010 Lambe established the artist-run space Death Be Kind with Elvis Richardson in Brunswick, Melbourne, together they created the exhibition The Memorial. Lambe’s solo exhibitions include: Lazyboy, Sarah Scout Gallery, Melbourne, 2012; Beadlestaff, presented by Monash University Museum of Art, Switchback Gallery, 2011; Ultra Primo, Ocular Lab, Melbourne, 2009; The Fitting, Ocular Lab, Melbourne, 2004; Giving shape to memory, Acme Studios Deptford, London, 1995; and H.I.D.E., The Works Gallery, Sydney, 1991. Lambe has participated in various group and collaborative exhibitions including: Like Mike, Sarah Scout, 2013; A Million Bucks, Utopian Slumps Gallery, 2013; Figure and Ground, Utopian Slumps Gallery, 2012; Claire Lambe, Lou Hubbard, Sarah Scout Gallery, 2010; Erotographomania, curator Sarah Jones, CAST gallery, Hobart, Tasmania, 2010; CHANGE, Monash University Museum of Art, 2010; Monumental Effect and The Monks Parlour, Death Be Kind, 2010; and Get oak firmness*, curated by Elvis Richardson, Ocular Lab and Hell Gallery, 2010.

Lisa Young has an eclectic practice that spans sculpture, installation, drawing and painting. Young completed a Masters of Fine Art at RMIT in 2003. Recent solo shows were Big World 2011 and Cabriole Leg 2012, both of these shows were at Sarah Scout. Young is represented by Sarah Scout. Young has had solo shows at both ACCA and Gertrude St and participated in many group shows both locally and in South Australia from whence she hails. In 1998 she was part of the exhibition The Unhomely curated by Jason Smith that toured to the Sonje Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea. Young has received both British and Australia council grants. In 1995, Young curated the exhibition UK Wit & Excess which toured Australia. Young also has a bar in Brunswick, The Alderman which participates in profiling local artists and which hosted the extensive project Death Be Kind.