MICHAEL DOOLAN caution and reassurance

8 to 28 November 2013 www.bettgallery.com.au

MICHAEL DOOLAN caution and reassurance

I guide readers to the entrance of toy land and usher them through its gates, but then keep asking the members of my tour group to consider whether, having found it an attractive and exciting place to visit, would they really want to live there forever.

...Lois Kuznets, When Toys Come Alive

New Haven and London, Yale University Press, 1994, p. 20

My work, inspired by popular culture and finding expression in a “world of the toy” de- and re-

construct childhood imagery. They engage the viewer with this world. Intentionally set up to

be viewed through the eyes of an adult while still allowing us to participate childlike, in this

“world of the toy”.

My aim is to capture and reveal the invisible, hidden qualities of the miniature.

Their featureless countenance employed to subvert “my” subject’s visually-friendly nature. A

major feature of these works is their high gloss reflective finish.

This mirror-like finish will force the viewer to engage with the work as an active and intimate

participator, so they observe themselves as a distorted reflection. There is an intention with

this work to question the way we perceive ourselves in the world, in this case, my world of the

toy, around them.

Michael Doolan 2013

Michael Doolan

(Black) Grumpy 2013

ceramic & auto enamel

42 x 45 x 30cm

$7,800

Michael Doolan

Flower 2013

ceramic & auto enamel

31 x 25 x 24cm

$5,700

Michael Doolan

Caution and Reassurance: Prince!s Castle 2012

ceramic, wood, polymer & auto enamel

34 x 40 x 25cm

$5,800

Michael Doolan

Caution and Reassurance: Snow White and Tree 2013

ceramic, wood & auto enamel

56 x 40 x 25cm

$5,800

Michael Doolan

Caution and Reassurance: Poison Apple 2013

ceramic, wood & auto enamel

23 x 40 x 25cm

$5,800

Michael Doolan

(Black) Bashful 2013

ceramic, polymer & auto enamel

28 x 20 x 18cm

$5,700

Michael Doolan

(Purple) Happy 2013

ceramic & auto enamel

47 x 55 x 27cm

$7,800

Michael Doolan

Caution and Reassurance: Poison Apple 2013

ceramic, wood & auto enamel

23 x 40 x 25cm

$5,800

MICHAEL DOOLAN

Born Melbourne, Victoria

Education

2005-13 PhD Monash University, Victoria, Australia

2001 M.A (By Research) Monash University, Victoria, Australia

1981 B.A Monash University, Victoria, Australia

Professional Experience

2010-13 Lecturer, Sydney College of the Arts, The University Of Sydney, NSW

1998-07 Lecturer, Department of Fine Arts, Monash University, Victoria

1992-93 Lecturer, Department of Applied Arts, Monash University, Victoria

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2013 Between Wishes and Fears: A Studio Investigation of the Fairy Tale, MADA Gallery

Monash University, Victoria

2012 Between Wishes and Fears: Jan Manton Art, Brisbane, QLD

2011 Cautionary Tales: Karen Woodbury Gallery, Melbourne, Victoria

2010 Once Upon A Time: Federation Square, Melbourne, Victoria

2008 For Ever For Now: Depot Gallery, Sydney, NSW

2007 For Now and For Ever: Karen Woodbury Gallery, Melbourne, Victoria

2005 Boo Who? Karen Woodbury Gallery, Melbourne, Victoria

2004 Never Ever Land: Academy Gallery, University Of Tasmania, Launceston, Tasmania

2003 Good as Gold: Brisbane City Gallery, Queensland

2001 The Good the Bad and the Cuddly: Faculty Gallery, Monash University Caulfield,

Victoria

2000 SHELF: Craft Victoria, Fitzroy, Victoria

1998 Pharaohs’ Prescription: Lauraine Diggins Fine Art, Melbourne, Victoria

Selected Group Exhibitions

2013 City Of Hobart Art Prize: Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart, Tasmania

2012 Jakarta Contemporary Ceramics Biennale: North Space Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia

Smash Hits: Shepparton Art Museum, Shepparton, Victoria

Silver: Wangaratta Art Gallery, Wangaratta, Victoria

2011 Deakin University Small Sculpture Award: Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria

Art for Science: Moss Green Gallery, Melbourne, Victoria

National Artists’ Self-Portrait Prize: University of Queensland Art Museum, QLD

25 Years- An Unfolding Journey: Bett Gallery, Hobart, Tasmania

Our House: Sydney College of the Arts, University Of Sydney, NSW

Light Moves: Jan Manton Art, Brisbane, Queensland

Think Tank- the Visual Diary/Artist’s Book: Academy Gallery, University of Tasmania,

Launceston, Tasmania

2010 You’re Move: Australian Artists Play Chess, Bendigo Art Gallery, Vic; University of

Queensland Art Museum, Brisbane, Qld; McClelland Gallery and Sculpture Park,

Langwarrin, Vic; Samstag Museum, Adelaide, S.A.

Melbourne Contemporary Art Fair: Melbourne, Victoria

Hobart Art Prize: Tasmania Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart, Tasmania

ZEN to KAWAII: THE JAPANESE AFFECT. Queensland University of Technology Museum,

Brisbane, QLD

KORERO, Taiwan International Ceramics Biennale, Yingge Museum, Taipei

New Acquisitions: Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart, Tasmania

CLASH, Newcastle Region Art Gallery, Newcastle, N.S.W.

2009 Art For Science, Nellie Castan Gallery, Melbourne, Victoria

Deakin Contemporary Small Sculpture Award, Deakin University, Victoria

Hobart Art Prize: Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart, Tasmania

Figuration: Jam Factory, Adelaide, South Australia

Trouble in Toyland: Counihan Gallery, Brunswick, Victoria, Australia

2008 Conversations: Bett Gallery: Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Trajectory of Memories: Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Australia

Bright and Shiny: Ipswich Art Gallery, Ipswich, Queensland, Victoria

Select Gallery Artists: Karen Woodbury Gallery, Melbourne, Victoria

Surface (Detail): Newcastle Region Art Gallery, Newcastle, N.S.W.

2007 PLAYTIME: Amusing Melbourne through the ages, City Museum, Melbourne, Victoria

McClelland Sculpture Survey: McClelland Gallery and Sculpture Park, Langwarrin,

Victoria

Art for Science: Nellie Castan Gallery, Melbourne, Victoria

Making and Meaning: Object Gallery, Sydney, NSW.

BLAST! The influence of Manga and contemporary Japanese culture on Australian

artists: Redcliffe City Art Gallery, Logan Art Gallery, Queensland

Snap Freeze: Still Life Now. TarraWarra Museum of Art, Victoria

2006 Strange Cargo: Contemporary art as a state of encounter.

Newcastle Region Gallery, Tweed River Regional Gallery,

Ipswich Art Gallery, Broken Hill City Art Gallery, Orange Regional Gallery, Bendigo Art

Gallery, Wagga Wagga Art Gallery.

Melbourne Contemporary Art Fair, Melbourne, Victoria

Sidney Myer International Ceramics Award, Shepparton Art Gallery,Victoria

2005 Hobart Art Prize, Museum and Art Gallery of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania

Trans Ceramic Art, 3rd World International Ceramics Biennale, Seoul, South Korea.

You’re So Vain, Karen Woodbury Gallery, Melbourne, Victoria

2004 Boogie Jive and Bop, Plimsoll Gallery, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania

2003 Hypercrafting, Faculty Gallery, Monash University, Caulfield, Victoria, Australia.

Gold Coast International Ceramics Award, Gold Coast City Art Gallery, Brisbane,

Queensland

2001 Friend of the Family, Discreet Projects, Arts Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria

2000 The Good the Bad and the Cuddly, Faculty Gallery, Monash University Caulfield,

Victoria

1999 Contemporary Australian Craft, Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, NSW.

Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, JapanTakaoka Art Museum, Japan

Museum of Modern Art, Shiga, Otsu, Japan

Space & Time, Faculty Gallery, Monash University – Caulfield, Victoria

1998 Sidney Myer International Ceramic Award, Winner of Premier Award, Shepparton Art

Gallery, Victoria

IMPACT: Art for a World Identity, Monash University Museum of Art- Clayton, Victoria

1997 Auto Art, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria

Sidney Myer Fund, International Ceramic Award, Shepparton Art Gallery, Victoria

1996 Artists at Ord Minet: Lauraine Diggins Fine Art, Melbourne, Victoria

BOX: Next Wave Festival, Craft Victoria Gallery, Melbourne, Victoria

National Craft Acquisition Award, Museum and Art Gallery of Northern Territory

1995 Delinquent Angel: Australian Contemporary Ceramics. Museum of

International Ceramics, Faenza, Italy, touring Japan, Singapore and Australia 4th

International Ceramics Competition, Mino, Japan

The Object Sublime, Lauraine Diggins Fine Art, Melbourne, Victoria

Sidney Myer Fund Australia Day Award, Shepparton Art Gallery, Victoria

Awards and Grants

2009 Connections Residency, Australia Council for the Arts.

City of Manningham Contemporary Ceramics Award.

2005 Arts Development Grant, Australia Council for the Arts

2002 London Studio Residency, Australia Council for the Arts

1998 Sidney Myer International Ceramics Award. (premier award)

1995 14th International Biennale, Ceramique d’Art, (gold medal) Vallauris, France.

Sidney Myer Fund Australia Day Award.

Collections

Queensland University of Technology.

Beson Foundation.

Deakin University, Victoria.

Artbank.

Ipswich Art Gallery, Ipswich, Queensland.

Shepparton Art Gallery, Shepparton, Victoria.

Chateau Museum, Vallauris, France.

Shepparton Art Gallery, Shepparton, Victoria.

Gold Coast City Gallery, Gold Coast, Queensland.

Newcastle Region Gallery, New South Wales.

City Of Manningham, Victoria.

Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.

McClelland Gallery and Sculpture Park, Victoria

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