Chris Bonnily
Opening Event: Wednesday 18 April, 6–8pm, 2018
Exhibition runs: Thursday 19 – Sunday 29 April
Talk by Michael Lech / the Fall of Sydney’s Department Stores: Saturday 21 April 3.15pm
Focussed on Sydney’s defunct and historic department stores, this exhibition explores their central place in the city’s cultural and social histories and the impact they had on consumers of the day.
By looking at the physical characteristics and memories that these stores contained and inspired in people, the ghosts and unspoken energies will transform into artworks that resonate with meaning. These stores included Anthony Hordern & Sons, Marcus Clark & Co, Grace Brothers Broadway, Mark Foy’s, Walton’s and Gowings. They have now closed because of changed economic structures, the growth of international manufacturing, trade and brands, and the growth of internet shopping amongst other causes.
These connections are evidenced in buildings and suburbs around Marrickville where Marcus Clark & Co, Anthony Hordern & Sons and Grace Brothers and appear in the form of shop branches and warehouses. These buildings are now used for other purposes such as cafes and new businesses, maintaining the fabric of places like Newtown and Marrickville in a new light.
These concepts are investigated through the process of photography and a variety of printing styles. The paper and fabric prints focus on varied elements of the stores, including logos, lettering and the stores’ actual facades.
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