Danish Quapoor Art

PREVIEW // Here’s the work-in-progress skeletons of some now-mostly-finished experimental stretched-paper works. I can’t wait to share them with you in Meanjin / Brisbane along with some of the works from my ‘good grief’ series. My exhibition ‘delphic’ launches in less than two weeks at KEPK in Yeerongpilly for MELT festival 6pm Friday 25 October: delphic Exhibition Launch.

‘delphic’ is presented by Melt. The Melt Development Program is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.

TONIGHT // I’m in Naarm / Melbourne and looking forward to the launch of FORT EARTH PROJECT | EXHIBITION at fortyfivedownstairs gallery from 5-7pm. Please come along for the full reveal of the finished work if you can - I’d love to see some familiar and friendly faces.

🌏♻️⚱️

This was a work-in-progress detail shot of my now-finished ‘plastic planetary funerary urn’. I’m really pleased with how this one turned out and I can’t wait for you to see it completed.

📸 Amanda Galea

OUTTAKE // There’s something I quite like about this photo, even though it was an accident with the moody / blown out lighting. It’s of my work ‘stubborn bodies (sentinel iii)’, 2024, Hand-coiled and stitched baling twine with porcelain paperclay and clear gloss glaze, 23.3 x 8.5 x 8.5cm.

There’s still a couple of weeks left to see it, and my other works, in person in INTIMATE WORLDS at NorthSite Contemporary Arts. Curated by Lauren Carter, the exhibition is on display until 10 October 2024.

Some of my works are still available:
https://shop.northsite.org.au/collections/intimate-worlds

SUNDAY MORNING // You still have two weekends to see my stitched baling twine work ‘extra padding’ in person at Murky Waters Studio, but here it is for those of you playing along at home. Big thanks to Amanda Galea for this photographic wizardry!

The group exhibition ‘Strange Fruits’ continues 9-12pm on Sundays only in September and there’s some diverse and wonderful works included.

Danish Quapoor, ‘extra padding’, 2024, Baling twine on timber pineapple, 24.8 x 12.6 x 3.5cm. Photograph: Amanda Galea.

INTIMATE WORLDS // Here’s some more shots of my works in the exhibition at NorthSite Contemporary Arts, curated by Lauren Carter. I loved making this body of work and seeing it all come together with this exhibition design.

‘INTIMATE WORLDS’ is on display until 10 October 2024. Most of my works are still available:
https://shop.northsite.org.au/collections/intimate-worlds

Image 2: ‘sheltered pedestal’, 2024, Hand-coiled and stitched baling twine with hand-pierced porcelain paperclay and clear gloss glaze, 9 x 5.2 x 5.2cm.
Image 3: ‘stubborn bodies (sentinel iii)’, 2024, Hand-coiled and stitched baling twine with porcelain paperclay and clear gloss glaze, 23.3 x 8.5 x 8.5cm. Photos and works all by Danish Quapoor.

RESILIENCE // Two of my illustrative paintings on stretched paper are now on display in an exhibition at St Andrew's Toowoomba Hospital. The ‘Resilience’ group exhibition is curated by Rhi Johnson and Kyle Jenkins, and features work by students, alumni and staff from the University of Southern Queensland - Australia (UniSQ) University of Southern Queensland School of Creative Arts.

Image: Danish Quapoor, ‘uphill battle,’ 2023, Acrylic and paint pen on stretched paper, 40.5 x 50.5cm, installed earlier in the year in ‘good grief’ at Pinnacles Gallery, Townsville City Galleries. Photograph: Amanda Galea.

INTIMATE WORLDS has already been up for a couple of weeks! The group exhibition, curated by Lauren Carter, is on display at NorthSite Contemporary Arts until 12 October. Big thanks to Lauren and all of the team for their support with my work, including helping to realise my vision of the intimate shelves for the intimate works.

Images: 1. Danish Quapoor, ‘(Maybe not) opaque destiny (sentinel iv),’ 2024, Hand-coiled and stitched baling twine with porcelain paper-clay and clear gloss glaze, 13.5 x 8.5 x 8.5cm.
2. Me with my works. Photograph by Leanne Hardy, courtesy NorthSite Contemporary Arts.

DETAIL // My full, finished work will launch in the group exhibition ‘Strange Fruits’ TONIGHT 6pm Friday 6 September at Murky Waters Studio.

The devil was and is in the detail for this work ‘extra padding’. I tightly stitched the repurposed pink baling twine through the timber to recreate the pink cushioned foam found on some fruits. There are also other layers of meaning to the title, design and concept, which I may or may not share.

Seeing the detail of the design like this, I’ve also just realised it l replicates the cross hatched design I used to sometimes draw in pink chalk to demarcate the centre line of the timber hay trailer, when baling hay at nights on our family farm. It can be terribly interesting what the subconscious reveals in art.

I hope to see you at the opening tonight, otherwise the exhibition continues 9-12pm on Sundays in September.

Danish Quapoor, ‘extra padding’ (detail), 2024, Baling twine on timber pineapple, 24.8 x 12.6 x 3.5cm. Photograph: Amanda Galea.

POWER DYNAMICS // I am pleased to share a couple more of my works in the NorthSite Contemporary Arts ‘INTIMATE WORLDS’ group exhibition, curated beautifully by Lauren Carter. My work is often quite small and intimate, so this was a great chance to hone in on those qualities within a cohesive collection.

My artwork statement: “This biomorphic series extends Danish Quapoor’s ongoing, personal interrogation of identity and familial relationships. The works reflect upon memory, alternative timelines, imagined conversations and (un)fulfilled prophecies. Their placements display imbalanced power dynamics, while their compositions of opposing mediums imply a cognitive dissonance.”

Images: Danish Quapoor, ‘pedestal i’ and ‘pedestal ii’, 2024, Hand-pierced porcelain paperclay, clear gloss glaze and acrylic on Linden wood, each 9.5cm high x variable dimensions.

‘INTIMATE WORLDS’ is on display until 10 October 2024, and most of my works are still available to purchase.
https://shop.northsite.org.au/collections/intimate-worlds

PROCESS // Here’s a behind-the-scenes, work-in-progress of my repurposed-timber-pineapple for ‘Strange Fruits’ at Murky Waters Studio. I was stoked to find the vintage ornament in an op shop last year even though I didn’t have a definite creative direction for it at the time. After the exhibition theme was announced it still took me some time to develop the concept, work out the maths and measurements, repeatedly drill into the timber and painstakingly stitch into it. I may have stretched and broken several large plastic needles in the process, but that’s showbiz, baby. And I’m so pleased with the end result.

You can see the now-finished-work ‘extra padding’ when the exhibition opens 6pm this coming Friday night 6 September.

OPENING // I have a small collection of works opening 1-3pm today in ‘INTIMATE WORLDS’ at NorthSite Contemporary Arts in Gimuy / Cairns. Curated by Lauren Carter, the exhibition also features Kim Nolan, Lois Hayes, Bunda Art, Malki Studio and Anne Jillett, and it will open alongside exhibitions by Jill Chism, Luke Aleksandrow, and Cristina Bevilacqua.

If you’re in FNQ today please come along (RSVPs requested) or visit while INTIMATE WORLDS is on display, until 10 October. RSVP link: https://events.humanitix.com/northsite-exhibitions-opening-event-or-jill-chism-or-luke-aleksandrow-or-cristina-bevilacqua-or-intimate-worlds-group-exhibition?mc_cid=bdb936f11e&mc_eid=b526d8b3ed

Image: Danish Quapoor, ‘Maybe iii (Maybe that’s why dad had to get taken out)’, 2024, Glass with hand-coiled and stitched baling twine and acrylic on Linden wood, 15 x 7.7 x 7.7cm. Photograph: Amanda Galea.

https://northsite.org.au/exhibitions/intimate-worlds/

LAUNCHING // It’s a big week for me with one work featured in an art prize, and a collection of works launching in a curated group exhibition. There was also a public announcement today for a festival lineup which includes my upcoming solo exhibition! ✨

My work ‘tumour target’ will be on display in the Gosford Art Prize at Gosford Regional Gallery from tomorrow 6pm Friday 23 August! It is an honour to be selected as one of the 136 finalists from over 900 entries. I can only be there in spirit, so if you attend please send me some photos!

I’ll share the details for my other projects soon… stay tuned! 👀 Image: Danish Quapoor, ‘tumour target’, 2023, Baling twine, 59.5 x 60cm. Photograph: Amanda Galea.

I’m pleased to be a finalist in this year’s Gosford Art Prize. There are 136 finalists from apparently 900 entries! ✨

PPPP // I’ve gone and won the 2024 Percival Photographic Portrait Prize(!) for my work ‘screening test’. Thank you to the judges for including and selecting my photograph, particularly amongst all of the other incredible finalists - I’m so grateful. Big thank you also to the team at Townsville City Galleries, and congratulations on the exhibition as a whole. And biggest thanks to Noah, who is now kind of an award-winning model ✨

Congratulations to the Painting Prize winner Seabastion Toast and to all the other Percivals finalists. The exhibition is on display at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery until Sunday 1 September - I would encourage you to visit if you haven’t already!

Danish Quapoor, ‘screening test,’ 2024, Portrait of Noah Guthrie, Archival digital photographic pigment print on Hahnemühle photo rag, 56 x 80cm. “This work captures a moment of intuitive inspiration, extending an ongoing series of photographs of the artist’s partner and muse. It furtively examines concepts of otherness, co-habitation and the body in relation to liminal space. The shirtless subject waits patiently, and perhaps ominously, amidst tropical vegetation at the back entrance to a suburban home. Will he be allowed inside before the afternoon light fades?”

I’m pleased to share three new works across three exhibitions launching this weekend, including two at Umbrella Friday night. Come along and celebrate ✨

TOMORROW NIGHT // Join us tomorrow night when we will launch over 200 artworks from over 80 Umbrella members for the 'Artificial: 2024 Umbrella Members' Exhibition', and over 100 prints created for 'Compact Prints' by artists from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Hungary, Japan, Romania, Turkey and USA. Plus, we are showcasing the talent of our emerging artists from the 'Young Indigenous Printmakers' program, as well as the first ever 'Compact Prints Jr' with works from local students.

Amanda Sadler (ASads), Secondary Teacher at Calvary Christian College, Umbrella member and participating artist said “The annual Umbrella members exhibition is the highlight of my artistic year. It’s a night where emerging and established artists come together to celebrate collectively. I started exhibiting in this gallery and show about 20 years ago. It’s a wonderful night to meet new people, discuss potential future collaborations and it offers a space to safely express yourself. Truly one of the most inspiring exhibitions due to the diversity of creative perspective.”

The public are invited to support our local artists and attend the June Exhibitions Launch, a free event from 6pm Friday 21 June 2024 at Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts in the heart of the city, 408 Flinders St.

This exhibition round runs from 21 June - 21 July 2024. To find out
more, visit www.umbrella.org.au

Image: Marion Gaemers, 'Bleached reef', 2024, Ghost net and found beach rope, 65 x 75 x 10cm. Photograph courtesy of the artist.

ONLINE // ‘good grief’ has moved onto my website (www.danishquapoor.com) which I have updated with images, texts, links and an almost 360° tour. If you didn’t get to see the exhibition in person, this is the next best thing for you to experience until I exhibit again:
www.danishquapoor.com/good-grief

Stay tuned 👀

THAT’S A WRAP // Thank you Townsville City Galleries for exhibiting ‘good grief’ at Pinnacles Gallery over the past two months, and to the team for your help with demounting earlier today. Thank you to those of you who bought one of my artworks and thank you to everyone who visited - apparently there were over 2,000 visitors!

The exhibition exceeded my expectations. I witnessed and experienced some great moments of catharsis, and in fact, some good grief. I am quite grateful.

Image: the artist before the artist talk with works ‘false dichotomy I and II’, ‘monolith to me’ and ‘crystal uskery’. Image courtesy Townsville City Galleries. Photography: Andrew Rankin.

FINAL WEEKEND // Wall drawing extension to an artwork considering in ‘good grief’ at Pinnacles Gallery.

‘like getting [redacted] and walking on green grass’, 2023-2024, Acrylic and paint pen on stretched paper, 60 x 80.5cm. Photograph: Amanda Galea.

FINAL WEEKEND // Nested artworks on a nested mural in ‘good grief’ at Pinnacles Gallery. It is wonderful witnessing audiences exploring the 3D perspectives of these ostensibly 2D works.

palimpsest nest, 2019-2023, Textured gesso, acrylic, marker and paint pen on stretched paper with hand-coiled and stitched baling twine, 40 x 30.5 x 2.3cm.

nest egg, 2023, Acrylic and paint pen on stretched paper with hand-coiled and stitched baling twine, 33.5 x 27 x 2cm.

renesting, 2022, Acrylic and paint pen on stretched paper with hand-coiled and stitched baling twine, 34.5 x 28 x 4.5cm.

Photographs 3-4: Amanda Galea.

Oh look, a couple more works from ‘good grief’. These ones feature the blackest black paint (available to everyone except Anish Kapoor), black baling twine, and glass that I blew and worked on at JamFactory last year.

Thanks again to University of Southern Queensland - Australia SOCA for awarding me the inaugural 2023 alumni fellowship which enabled me to do the introductory glass-blowing course.

The exhibition is on at Pinnacles Gallery, Townsville City Galleries until this Sunday 28 April, but closed tomorrow for Anzac Day.

‘Maybe i (Maybe that’s why dad had to get taken out)’, 2023-2024, Glass with hand-coiled and stitched baling twine and acrylic on Linden wood, 15 x 7.7 x 7.7cm.

‘Maybe ii (Maybe you have to change everything about yourself)’, 2023-2024, Blown glass, hand-coiled and stitched baling twine and acrylic on Linden wood, 19 x 10.5 x 10.5cm.

Images 1 & 3: Amanda Galea.
Image 2: Courtesy Townsville City Galleries, Photography: Andrew Rankin.

SNAKES AND LADDERS // There are usually multiple layers of meaning to the personal iconographies of my illustrative paintings. Snakes, for instance, often represent feelings of constriction, but they can also express tenacity, temptation and cunning. I’m quite pleased when there is misdirection and obfuscation in the finished works, as it means they keep my secrets hidden in plain sight.

(There is lesssss than a week left to see my exhibition ‘good grief’ in person, but I sssstill have plenty of photographs to share). 🐍

L: ‘murder(ed) bir’d, 2020-2021, Acrylic and paint pen on stretched paper, 51 x 41cm; R: ‘ORPHIC EGG’, 2020, Acrylic and paint pen on stretched paper, 25.5 x 20.5cm. Photograph: Amanda Galea.

OTHER NEWS // I have to interrupt your regularly scheduled ‘good grief’ programming to mention another exhibition closing this week on Friday 26 April. FILL YOUR EYES II, curated by Rhi Johnson and Peta Berghofer, is on display in the UniSQ A Block Foyer Gallery, Toowoomba, Qld. It features 646 postcard submissions from over 200 Australian and international participants, just like me (and actually me). This one was an extension of my baling twine work, but also thinking about the acts of postal communication and viewing awful colours.

Danish Quapoor, ‘orange you glad it’s not orange’, 2024, Perspex, repurposed paper envelope and baling twine, 10.5 x 14.8cm. Photograph 2: Theresa Hall.

CONTRAST // It’s tricky to photograph the balance of the dark walls with the fine details of my works. So if you haven’t seen ‘good grief’ in person, I would recommend it. The exhibition closes next Sunday 28 April. That’s 9 more days to visit Pinnacles Gallery.

For this series within ‘good grief’ I was exploring death, regret, memories, allergies and gender roles, but also relishing the abstraction, shapes and colours.

TUSKS, 2021, Acrylic and paint pen on stretched paper, 40.5 x 30.5cm.

WELTS, 2021, Acrylic and paint pen on stretched paper, 40.5 x 30.5cm.

WHITEHEADS, 2021, Acrylic and paint pen on stretched paper, 40.5 x 30.5cm.

LORATADINE, 2023-2024, Acrylic and paint pen on stretched paper, 30.5 x 25.5cm.

Photographs: Amanda Galea.