Simon Starling ‘Simon Starling: In Speculum’

Simon Starling, Three White Desks, 2008 - 2009, A copy of a writing desk designed by Francis Bacon for Patrick White (circa 1932) built in Berlin, Germany by the cabinetmaker Uwe Küttner with reference to a 30 megabyte scan of a vintage print from the National Library of Canberra, Austarlia., A copy of a copy of a writing desk designed by Francis Bacon for Patrick White (circa 1932) built in Sydney, Australia by the cabinetmaker Charmian Watts with reference to an 84 kilobyte jpeg made and transmitted with a mobile phone by Uwe Küttner, Berlin. A copy of a copy of a copy of a writing desk designed by Francis Bacon for Patrick White (circa 1932), built in London, England by the cabinetmaker George Gold with reference to a 100 kilobyte jpeg transmitted in an email by Charmian Watts, Sydney., Dimensions variable
Simon Starling
Monash University Museum of Art – MUMA, Caulfield East
18/07/2013—21/09/2013
  • Simon Starling, Three White Desks, 2008 - 2009, A copy of a writing desk designed by Francis Bacon for Patrick White (circa 1932) built in Berlin, Germany by the cabinetmaker Uwe Küttner with reference to a 30 megabyte scan of a vintage print from the National Library of Canberra, Austarlia., A copy of a copy of a writing desk designed by Francis Bacon for Patrick White (circa 1932) built in Sydney, Australia by the cabinetmaker Charmian Watts with reference to an 84 kilobyte jpeg made and transmitted with a mobile phone by Uwe Küttner, Berlin. A copy of a copy of a copy of a writing desk designed by Francis Bacon for Patrick White (circa 1932), built in London, England by the cabinetmaker George Gold with reference to a 100 kilobyte jpeg transmitted in an email by Charmian Watts, Sydney., Dimensions variable
  • Simon Starling, Three White Desks, 2008 - 2009, A copy of a writing desk designed by Francis Bacon for Patrick White (circa 1932) built in Berlin, Germany by the cabinetmaker Uwe Küttner with reference to a 30 megabyte scan of a vintage print from the National Library of Canberra, Austarlia., A copy of a copy of a writing desk designed by Francis Bacon for Patrick White (circa 1932) built in Sydney, Australia by the cabinetmaker Charmian Watts with reference to an 84 kilobyte jpeg made and transmitted with a mobile phone by Uwe Küttner, Berlin. A copy of a copy of a copy of a writing desk designed by Francis Bacon for Patrick White (circa 1932), built in London, England by the cabinetmaker George Gold with reference to a 100 kilobyte jpeg transmitted in an email by Charmian Watts, Sydney., Dimensions variable
  • Simon Starling, Le Jardin Suspendu, 1998, A 1:  6.5 scale model of a 1920 s French “Farman Mosquito”, built using the wood from a balsa tree cut on the 13th of May 1998 at Rodeo Grande, Baba, Ecuador, to fly in the grounds of Heide II, Melbourne designed in 1965 by David Mc Glashan and Neil Everist, Model plane, balsa tree, bags, tools, plans, glass, steel, site-lights, transparency, Dimensions variable
  • Simon Starling, Wilhelm Noack OHG, 2006, Stainless steel, film projector, 35mm film looped, light, sound, 407 x 192 cm
  • Simon Starling, In Speculum (Studio Edit), 2013 (still), 35 mm transferred to HD, Duration: 4 mins 10 secs, Projected dimensions variable, Edition of 5 + 1 AP
  • Simon Starling, Venus Mirrors (05/06/12, Hawaii & Tahiti (Inverted)), 2012, 2 drilled 600mm telescope mirrors, stands, 179.7 x 66 x 56 cm each (60 cm diameter each), Edition of 5 + 1 AP
  • Simon Starling, In Speculum (Studio Edit), 2013, 35 mm transferred to HD, Duration: 4 mins 10 secs, Projected dimensions variable, Edition of 5 + 1 AP
  • Simon Starling, In Speculum (Studio Edit), 2013, 35 mm transferred to HD, Duration: 4 mins 10 secs, Projected dimensions variable, Edition of 5 + 1 AP
  • Simon Starling, In Speculum (Studio Edit), 2013 (still), 35 mm transferred to HD, Duration: 4 mins 10 secs, Projected dimensions variable, Edition of 5 + 1 AP
  • Simon Starling, In Speculum (Studio Edit), 2013 (still), 35 mm transferred to HD, Duration: 4 mins 10 secs, Projected dimensions variable, Edition of 5 + 1 AP
  • Simon Starling, In Speculum (Studio Edit), 2013 (still), 35 mm transferred to HD, Duration: 4 mins 10 secs, Projected dimensions variable, Edition of 5 + 1 AP

Marked by epic journeys and explorative narratives, Simon Starling’s work investigates the social, cultural and material implications of object-making. His ongoing excavation and transformation of the material world takes the form of associational assemblages that incorporate film, photography and sculptural forms, revealing rich, unexpected and complex histories.

The first career survey of the Turner Prize-winning artist’s work in Australasia, Simon Starling: In Speculum, brings together a major new commission and key works from the artist’s oeuvre that focus particularly on the site of the studio and workshop, and relationships between art, technology, history and modernity. This aspect of Starling’s research-based practice reflects the form and process of manufacture in both structure and concept.

An artist who often works site-specifically and in response to local geographies, Starling has developed a new work for In Speculum that engages the Great Melbourne Telescope (1868-69). Currently under restoration at Museum Victoria, the telescope was one of the largest in the world at the time of its production in the 19th century. Starling’s new project continues his interest in early scientific exploration and astronomy.