Matthew Griffin Note to Self 2008. Image: Joyce Nissan via slopesprojects.org
Fitzroy gallery Slopes is currently hosting its final exhibition Don’t Kurt Cobain. It showcases work from 10 artists and collectives which honour the death and influence of beloved Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain 20 years after his suicide.
Curated by Lisa Radford and Rosemary Forde the exhibition features minimalist canvas pieces, iconic photography and eerie audio visual installations. The sparse gallery draws the eye to each individual piece. The only sound that permeates the raw gallery space comes from Sue Dodd’s work Kurt Alone. A simulated Cobain and his unmistakable blue eyes stare back at the viewer as he repeats the words “to be loved” on loop.
Director of the gallery Brooke Babington said the work reflects the artist’s own personal experiences with the 90’s grunge movement and how younger generations were affected by Cobain’s suicide. She believes that the 1990s can only be remembered as the time before and after Kurt Cobain. Although the exhibition conveys a sense of loss, it’s also a celebration of a period of rebellion, self expression and that a whole generation was represented by the music and actions of one man.
Don’t Kurt Cobain
Slopes Gallery
9 Smith Street, Fitzroy
6 – 29 November
For further information please visit slopesprojects.org
