Richmond Library Exhibition Space - 415 Church Street, Richmond
May - June 06
‘Living lightly on this Earth’….Buddhist doctrine.
'Monty the Earmouse' by Denise Dempsey - Wire/plaster/enamel, 29 x 25cms (2006)
Review by Anita Sinclair
I can imagine why the images of Buddha show him smiling; clearly he has a sense of humour, picked up by Denise Dempsey and displayed in her collection for this exhibition at the Richmond Library.
From 1977 to 1997 she taught Environmental Science and Maths at Secondary level, then went on to hold a solo exhibition in 2002 at Gallery 369 in Wantirna. Between 2001 and 2006 she has contributed to many group shows. She takes her work seriously and humour is a serious business!
Take ‘Scruffy the Dooster’, a free standing piece in wire, plaster and enamel. Is Scruffy a rooster who thinks he’s a dog, or a dog who thinks he’s a rooster? Plonk him in your lounge room and spend a lifetime meditating on that! He is very well put together, with strong forms, strange shapes and clearly distinguishable textures; really very pleasant.
More troubling is poor ‘Monty the Earmouse’. A bit sickening when you connect him with the pathetic creature on television – a mouse with a human ear attached. The humour here is of a darker nature. Yet the overall form is attractive. The viewer has to do some work sorting their emotions. Monty himself looks a bit dismayed.
Smaller 3 dimensional pieces in the glass cabinet, in stone, clay, wood and mixed media show whimsical views of Aussie icons and Denise Dempsey’s pleasure with a variety of materials.
Within the Library proper is a collection of the artist’s works in 2 dimensions, if the wood relief can be counted as such. Called ‘Wooden Moon’, it is rather a collage than a carving, with some parts stained, all fixed in place on a flat surface.
‘Monolith’ and ‘Cavernous’ are both mixed media, all graphic techniques, predominantly wash. Both seem to be Denise Dempsey’s response to rock formations, but neither is treated literally.
‘Crisscross’ is a departure, split into four sections. Basically burlap squares with bold painted lines, reminiscent of freeways and rivers.
Yet another stimulating display in the restful surrounds of the Richmond Library.
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