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15.10.24 - 16.11.24

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

Just as an event is revived through memory, and transformed by the mind with each recollection, shaping it into the version we wish to preserve, Billy Gibney constructs imagery loaded with intense feelings such as nostalgia, fear, excitement, or aversion. Recognizing that reality often surpasses fiction regardless of how strident the latter may attempt to be, Gibney manages to humanize that exaltation and establish an immediate connection with the viewer through his unfiltered observation of the human psyche conveyed in his painting. 

 

Drawing inspiration from cinema’s unique ability to explore human nature, Billy Gibney depicts an implausible reality that focuses on tension, gestures, and movement. The images in "Thank You for Your Consideration," sourced from his own memories or thoughts, reveal a representation of the world with a theatrical approach that feels both familiar and credible despite the exaggeration of gesture and the heightened emotion reflected in each piece. 

 

The artist mobilizes common clichés drawn from cinema or his own experience to describe universal themes of tragedy, heartbreak, bewilderment, or longing. Gibney’s fascination with the genres of film noir, psychological drama, and suburban gothic lies at the heart of his work. Those references not only inform the thematic content of his oeuvre but also influence the composition of his images: the use of static, Dutch-angle and establishing shots, cropped close-ups, or the framing of the works with dimensions close to those of movie screens. Cultivating a sense of voyeurism, directing the attention towards the climax or breaking point as if they were movie frames.

 

Billy Gibney does not present a linear or explicit narrative. The scenes, familiar yet enigmatic, establish a dialogue with each other and encourage the viewer to project their personal memories and weave their own stories. The artist’s work invites us to pause in the observation of these gestures and movements and to confront the emotions that unfold in each depicted moment.

Text by Manuela Medina

Filament, Billy Gibney, 2024

Oil on canvas, 111 x 86 cm

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ABOUT THE ARTIST

Billy Gibney (b. 1995) is a Melbourne-based artist with a distinctive flair for incandescent realism.

 

His paintings focus on the potency and meaning within seemingly insignificant moments. Beginning with written prompts, Vanilli recalls everyday observations, dreams and memories.

Through painting, he explores how these moments transform, distort or become embellished with each revisit.

The resulting imagery is luscious, complex and shimmers with a familiar sentimentality. 

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