TOO NEAR TOO FAR

 02.02.07-17.03.07
VENUE: CAREOF, MILAN, ITALY
ARTISTS: Alicia Frankovich, Simon Horsburgh, David Rosetzky and works on paper by the 2007 Gertrude Studio Artists
CURATORS: Chiara Agnello and Roberta Tenconi

As part of Monash University Museum of Art’s and independent curator Natalie King’s exchange project m.m.m, sixteen of Gertrude Contemporary’s Studio Artists exhibited their work at C/O careof, Contemporary Art Centre in Milan. 

The exhibition, Too Near, Too Far, which opened on 2nd February 2007 and ran through until 17th March 2007, was created under the banner m.m.m – Milan/Melbourne/Milan or Melbourne/Milan/Melbourne. The overall m.m.m program encompassed an itinerant, evolving series of exhibitions and projects, curatorial exchanges, artists’ and curators’ residencies and collaborations. 

The Too Near, Too Far component of the project was developed during Chiara Agnello and Roberta Tenconi’s curatorial residency at Gertrude Contemporary in 2006.  It followed their exhibition project Frame, a survey of contemporary Italian art held in Studios 12 and 18 at 200 Gertrude Street in August and September, 2006. Too Near, Too Far featured major site-specific installations by Simon Horsburgh and Alicia Frankovich, past Gertrude Studio Artists.  Smaller works by each of Gertrude’s sixteen current Studio Artists were presented alongside these two major projects, as were publications from a number of independent and artist-run spaces in Melbourne. 

Too Near, Too Far is a unique exhibition project that provided a snapshot of Melbourne’s vibrant contemporary art scene, invoking the pioneering spirit of Melbourne’s many artist-initiated activities. The project showcased Melbourne’s dynamic non-profit, grass-roots creative sector and celebrated the networks and collaborations that have galvanized the local art scene. 

Melbourne a Milano (m.m.m) Principle sponsors: Arts Victoria; City of Melbourne. Commissioning Curators: Max Delany, Director of Monash University Museum of Art; and Natalie King, independent curator, writer and broadcaster. 

Presented by the City of Melbourne, Melbourne a Milano included a diverse program of public and stakeholder events celebrating the strengths and similarities between Melbourne and Milan as sister cities, promoting Melbourne as a significant business and visitor destination.