Hero Image Full.jpg — The Painter and The Performance Artist

Duo exhibition in collaboration with performance artist, Ida Sophia, at The Mill Adelaide, April 7 - May 14, 2021.

What happens when a Painter (Ruby Chew) and a Performance Artist (Ida Sophia) assemble for a period of 4 weeks to make work based on the methodologies, materials and processes of the other’s?

Ruby and Ida invited audiences into the gallery to watch as their works develop over the first four weeks of the exhibition. Working within a process driven structure outlined in a joint manifesto, both artists brought their own understanding of artistic practice, and a willingness to extend into new zones. While present in the gallery over the first period of the exhibition, the artists responded to weekly provocations traded in sealed envelopes. The final two weeks was as a static exhibition for audiences to view the work produced during the first period.

Artist Statement
’Our objective is to subvert the normal system of an exhibition; how it is prepared, presented and received. Through this we will develop new theoretical underpinnings for our practices, birthed through process.

The process is the exhibition.

We will respond to the materials, methods and processes from each other, and build from the foundation of our own practices. Envelopes containing instructions, provocations, methodological considerations and processes will be traded between us weekly. These directives will dictate the work that we make. We anticipate an exchange that is challenging and fruitful, producing work that pushes the edges of our practices into fresh territory…’

Provocations (Left side, written by Ida for Ruby, right side, written by Ruby for Ida

‘…Adherence to a co-written manifesto, written specifically for this system intervention, provides us with artistic constrictions, intentions and declarations. This includes a list of materials; 5 from Ruby’s practice, 5 from Ida’s and each a meaningful object to work from.

We invite you into this experimental exhibition where you can view work and engage in a participatory capacity. This is a purposefully fluid space, you will encounter all stages of artistic output. Consequently, the gallery will morph and transform weekly, we encourage you to return and witness the space as it evolves.’

Selection of works

Ruby Chew, Paper Breath
Response to Week 1 Provocation

Ruby Chew, Exhale in a Can
Response to Week 2 Provocation