DAVID SIMPKIN

David Simpkin was awarded a Masters in Fine Art (Research) at the Victorian College of the Arts Melbourne (2000‐1). His accomplished art practice, demonstrates a prolific and often satirical engagement with contemporary art discourse. David’s projects offer a valued and critical contributions to art practice and education in Australia. His recent exhibitions include: The Aesthetics of Joy: Whirling Dervish, Westspace,  The Lancaster Set: The Waterbomber, Gearbox Gallery, (2010); One More Time With Feeling: The Boxman, Margaret Lawrence Gallery, (2009); Nice Stratigraphy: Watercooler Talk, Conical Gallery, Guidelines, Next Wave: Membrane,  Federation Square  Melbourne, (2008); The Independence Project: Still alive with Oranges, Galerie Petronas  Kuala Lumpur  Malaysia, Bracket Creep, Conical Gallery, ihub: The Fore-Shortening Effect, Touch Screen information hubs,  Melbourne, (2007).

Recent video project notes:
The Eastern Block “When half the wisdom was removed invariably I collapse into images. These seven weeks of dental agony were almost over.  The stitches cover the excavations and bind the skin like a perforated rubber band.  The tongue goes into new spots as my accent subtly changes.  Thankfully I can only recall the pain in a conceptual manner. The mouth felt clapped out like a foxhole.  The pharmaceuticals were strong but in order to prevent myself from dozing I sucked in the cold air.  I remember when my legs went to jelly as I nearly passed out from those throbbing attacks brought on by that wretched caramel.  No wonder I rarely smile. The Video Sketch “This is one of several takes from the morning after.  The operation itself was filmed whilst I was unconscious; a white flap of heat blanket covers the lens of the clip-on fish-eye camera. I’ve recovered two audio files from video archive of footage shot using a surveillance camera.  The first piece of audio comes from filming the front door hinge of Chartres Cathedral in 2005.  The hinge sound is spectacular like a fog horn.  I estimate it to be anywhere up to 700 years old depending on how many times its’ been replaced.  The second bit of audio comes from an orange gramophone I filmed at the Anglesea market over the summer.”

David lives and works in Victoria, Australia.
Image: Loss of Wisdom, video still, 2010.