David Thomas: Colouring Impermanence - curation

BACKGROUND: The exhibition 'David Thomas: Colouring Impermanence' featured works drawn from over four decades. Presented together for the first time, the exhibition explored the core values inherent within Thomas' practice including colour, duration and time. It was curated by Fleur Watson together with Stuart Geddes and David Thomas. The exhibition brought together two inter-connected yet distinctive spaces. Project Room 1 was a contemplative and experiential space with a series of works from Thomas' archive as well as new works created directly in response to the Design Hub. Project Room 2 was conceived as a studio-like environment where works - from early figurative drawings through to contemporary paintings - were presented with works by peers alongside collaborative projects. Its public program included a 'micro-course' examining the importance of teaching to Thomas' practice. Through eight lessons participants experimented with drawing, painting and photography, participated in tutorials and group discussions. CONTRIBUTION: The curatorial intent highlighted the process of empathetic observation in contemporary creative practice, and time as a subject in itself. The design of the exhibition focused on the movement of meaning over time and to contemplate the transitory, unstable nature of being and perceiving. The exhibition curation builds upon the intent at the Design Hub to curate a progressive program that explores, visualises and performs the making of design research through exhibitions. This work demonstrates Watson's ongoing investigation into new ways of presenting and mediating architectural and design practices within a collaborative model. SIGNIFICANCE: The exhibition was designed for the RMIT Design Hub. A progressive educational environment, it houses a community of architects, designers, curators and students for collaborative, inter-disciplinary design research. The exhibition was reviewed in Art Guide Australia and Outlet magazine.