Two of Gold Coast’s best-known artists have pooled their talents for an eclectic, thought-provoking exhibition that’s definitely not-to-be-missed. Especially if you’re in Tasmania!
Courtenay McCue and Dion Parker are virtually household names of the Gold Coast’s art scene. Known for their bold statements, bright colours and fun, quirky works, these two are kinda same-same, but also very different.
So we were curious to find out more about their latest adventure, a collaborative month-long residency at Q Bank gallery in Tasmania, and a dual exhibition being hosted by the Penny Contemporary gallery in Hobart.
Opening on 16 June and running to 1 July, the exhibition is entitled ‘There’s a lot more thinking than I ever thought’, and will reference the duo’s thoughts and ideas, things they’ve seen and heard and everyday items that were around them at the time.
Crt x Dion’s distinctive individual styles merge and overlap, drawing references from different times. They blend themes and ideas of vintage, nostalgia, pop culture and everyday nonsense to produce paintings, sculptures, ceramics, fashion and more in a style neither of them could quite create their own.
They answered some questions for us ahead of the opening.
How did the residency come about?
We lined up the residency for a few reasons. We both love spending time in Tasmania! We also thought it was a good idea to create as much of the work in Tasmania as possible for our exhibition at Penny Contemporary. We had both heard of Q Bank through friends so we reached out to them and organised to spend a month there.
So are there some pieces from each of you, and some that are collabs, or what?
Every work in the exhibition has in some part been created by the both of us. The paintings, concepts, designs and creation are all a collaboration between us. We are constantly throwing ideas back and forth. We talk a lot of shit, laugh, argue and occasionally get serious. Through all these processes new ideas are born and evolve. The ones you’ll see as part of the exhibition are the ones that didn’t hit the cutting room floor.
Can you tell us what to expect from the exhibition?
A lot of what you see in these works are a form of visual diary with no tangible timeline. The works reference thoughts and ideas we’ve had, things we’ve seen or heard and everyday items that were around us at the time. The works also tie elements of nostalgia from both of our lives. Being from two very different generations what each of us sees as nostalgia is different, yet in some way our styles and individual additions to each work seem to merge together seamlessly.
What’s your working process been like?
It’s an interesting process. Sometimes we try to plan an artwork, sometimes we just start painting and see what happens. Then we go to the pub. Come back and start again. The sculptures and ceramics are a bit of a different process. A bit more structure is needed for those. The main thing is that we have a lot of fun doing it all.
Crt x Dion’s ‘There’s a lot more thinking than I ever thought’ will run at Hobart’s Penny Contemporary Gallery from 16 June to 1 July. Visit pennycontemporary.com.au, and follow @holyshititsdion and @crt.designs for news and updates.
