Rabbit Painting

BACKGROUND Turn Up Your Radio: showcases the research of leading contemporary artists who produce both music and visual art. The curatorial premise investigates the complex links between music, sound and visual art in terms of synesthesia and the historical cannon where artists believed music to have perceptual links to painting. Kandinsky, Van Gogh and Mondrian are examples as are the careers of John Lennon, Don Van Vliet, Michael Snipe, Patti Smith and Pete Townsend. As both a sonic and visual artist Ellis's work researches in what ways 'chance' and 'automatic' processes of creation can be utilized in both media. CONTRIBUTION Ellis explores the surrealist methodology of psychic automatism in painting that is parallel to his sonic interpretation. The ink drawing " Rabbit Painting" was produced as a direct visual interpretation of his improvised music composition with Phil Edwards; "Muckingdash" included on the AND CD 'The Phantom Lights" 2010. "Visitors were able to distill complex human emotions, political situations, joy and sadness, the real and surreal into singular moments captured as visual and sonic experience". SIGNIFICANCE The 4-member committee of Trocadero Art Space invited guest curator Brendan Lee "To select leading contemporary musicians/artists to explore the dynamics and research investigations of both mediums and how this versatility reveals challenging observations of contemporary Australian culture". Examples of sound and visual art by each artist were included in the exhibition. Co-exhibitors included nationally and internationally recognized musicians such as Mick Turner (Dirty Three) Nic Dalton (Lemon Heads & Ratcat) Dean Muller (Cosmic Psychos) Essay by Dr. Vincent Alessi, Curatorial Manager, Ian Potter museum, University of Melbourne.