"Turned on In Venice" Review

                 Turned on in Venice
                     Pepperton Gallery, 11 March - 23 May 04, Press View:
                 Thursday 11 March 10.00 -13.00

                 'Turned on in Venice' is a group exhibition showcasing thirteen artists’
                 works that have explored the eternal city of Venice through new eyes and
                 contemporary vision.
                 Artists featured are: Bula C Agbo, Gordana Bjelic-Rados, Jane Bohane,
                 Angelo Bordonari, Jenny Chong, Michael Cull, Deanna Georgeson,
                 Peter Gillies, Peter Grant, Judith Green, Sandee S Johnson,
                 Berni Smith and Biggi Stiller.

                 No longer does the artist find it necessary to physically sit by the edge of
                 a canal and paint the numerous gondolas bobbing up and down or to
                 capture the skyline of an evening sunset meeting the peaks and dome
                 of St Marks Square like JMW Turner and his predecessors. However,
                 the allure of Venice is far from dead. The artists at times examine their landscape
                 with an intricacy comparable to that of a microscope but all the time
                 maintaining a contemporary slant. Interestingly, artists seek inspiration from
                 secondary as well as primary sources such as: the film Death in Venice,
                 the exhibition Turner and Venice and writing by Charles Dickens.

                 Bula C Agbo has led the enigmatic and mystical carnival revellers directly
                 into the gallery space, leaving you with the feeling of having rubbed shoulders with
                 the masked masquerades as you enter the show. Gordana Bjelic-Rados picks up
                 on the light and colour of the city and sees it reflect on the multitude of windows
                 of the narrow alleyways to the extent where it takes on, the richness of a stained
                 glass window.
                 Jane Bohane is drawn to the Venetian tradition of glass making, transforming her
                 image into a colourful abstraction seen through a light box. Angelo Bordonari captures
                 a moment in time that is so typical of a here-and-now situation.
                 Jenny Chong’s images were inspired by Italio Calvino’s 'Invisible Cities' ; resulting in
                 silently haunting scenes of a place that could be reminiscent of any city.
                 Michael Cull is an accomplished painter who draws on the strong play of sunlight,
                 creating a multitude of subtle planes and colours where the changing hues "is a daily
                 renaissance". Deanna Georgeson explores the romantic combination of eroticism and
                 death, taken from the film 'Death in Venice'.Peter Gillies reflect on memories of Venice
                 found in the fabric of the buildings and through layers of abstract markingsand textures,
                 creating a rich and vibrant surface.
                 Peter Grant’s book, 'An Italian Dream' is a marriage of his silk-screened images and
                 Dickens’ writings 'Pictures from Italy' . Judith Green deals with the theme of unrequited love
                 from the film 'Death in Venice' in a delicate and seductive manner. Sandee Johnson creates
                 psychological drama with the female psyche. Berni Smith responds after a visit to the
                 exhibition 'Turner and Venice' with poetic verve and particular attention to JMW Turner’s
                 'The Dogana and Madonna della Salute, Venice, 1843'. Biggi Stiller’s image has emerged out
                 of her numerous coffee breaks and smouldering thoughts throughout her journey during the
                 Venice Biennial 2003.

                 This exhibition has been curated by Bula Chakravarty-Agbo and assisted by Biggi Stiller and
                 Faye Fokias, Pepperton Gallery.