Jacqueline Fraser

(under close scrutiny)

Jacqueline Fraser The gorgeous artist is bowing you (with flair), 2001; from the series A Demure Portrait of the Artist Strip Searched <>(under construction); Black ribbon, laminated tracing paper, wire, French brocade, black couture lace, sequin organza; 220 x 180 cm; Provinence: Venice Biennale 2001; Edition of 2; enquire

Fraser's work combines locally and international sourced materials in a way that also effects the site of each installation. She uses socio-political issues to effectively dismantle ideological and theoretical assumptions by highlighting cultural bias and ignorance, all with an underlying poetic that makes history both personal and real.

Exhibition Dates: 5 July – 29 July 2001

Jacqueline Fraser is one of New Zealand's most respected and widely exhibited contemporary artists. While describing herself as a sculptor, Fraser's elegant and complex wire and fabric wall pieces defy easy definition.

Born in New Zealand, her exhibition history includes more than 50 solo shows in New Zealand, and participation in group shows in New Zealand, Australia, Europe, Singapore and several international Biennales.

Fraser's work combines locally and international sourced materials in a way that also effects the site of each installation. She uses socio-political issues to effectively dismantle ideological and theoretical assumptions by highlighting cultural bias and ignorance, all with an underlying poetic that makes history both personal and real.

Her tableaux and emblematic 'drawings' of figures and profiles of people address themes of loss and sadness, with the real and the personal being fundamental to her work. Curator of New Museum, New York, Anne Barlow, says of Fraser's work, "...there is no such thing as a seamless narrative. She creates tension between the beauty and fragility of the materials and the harsh subject matter she often depicts."

Fraser's recent work, bi polar, representing New Zealand at the 49th Venice Biennale in 2001 and her forthcoming solo exhibition at the New Museum in New York, and participation in the Yokohama Triennale continue to position Fraser as a highly regarded artist. Jacqueline Fraser has exhibited widely in New Zealand, Australia and internationally. Major group exhibitions include the Museum of Mexico City 2000, Museum Fridericianum, Kassel, 1999; New Zealand Winner of the Seppelt Award, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, 1999; Islas, Centro Atlantico de Arte Moderno, Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Containers in Copenhagen, 1996, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, 1998 and 1994.

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The obscure artist sees the shamed boy peer down deep (remanded to reside as directed at the night shelter with a curfew between the hours of 8pm and 7am). To view that dark labotomy. <>., 2001
from the series A Demure Portrait of the Artist Strip Searched <>(under construction)
Black ribbon, laminated tracing paper, wire, French brocade, black tulle, sequins, organza, Rubelli brocade.
255 x 90 cm; Provinence: Venice Biennale 2001
Edition of 2

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The agitated artist spies the no fixed abode boy gaze beyond pert(you have the right to refuse a blood sample but we advise you to co-operate) to peep that barren barium test <>, 2001
from the series A Demure Portrait of the Artist Strip Searched <>(under construction)
Black ribbon, laminated tracing paper, wire, French brocade, black tulle, sequin taffeta, Rubelli brocade
225 x 90 cm; Provinence: Venice Biennale 2001
Edition of 2

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The unco-operative artist spots the blue bruised boy slump below fierce(with drawstring tightening, ball point pen sharpening and dreaded belt flexed) to dodge that genetical arrangement .<>, 2001
from the series A Demure Portrait of the Artist Strip Searched <>(under construction)
Black ribbon, laminated tracing paper, wire, French brocade, black sequin lace, sequin tafetta, Rubelli brocade
225 x 90 cm; Provinence: Venice Biennale 2001
Edition of 2

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The dissected artist notes the thin tattooed boy feel invisible again (what kind of name is that?) to distort that Lithium alteration. << Wellington, Basel, Yokohama>>., 2001
from the series A Demure Portrait of the Artist Strip Searched << with 11 details of bi polar disorder >> (under close scrutiny)
Black ribbon, laminated tracing paper, wire, French brocade, black tulle, sequins, organza, Rubelli brocade.
225 x 90 cm; Provinence: Venice Biennale 2001
Edition of 2

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And then the composed artist says (with grit) "Stand up firmly without willful damage. Hoist up deftly without wrongful arrest. Soar up sharply with the vista of release, 2001
from the series A Demure Portrait of the Artist Strip Searched <>(under construction)
Black ribbon, laminated tracing paper, wire, French brocade, black tulle, sequin organza, Rubelli brocade
225 x 90 cm; Provinence: Venice Biennale 2001
Edition of 2

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And the discreet artist whispers (with fluence), 2001
from the series A Demure Portrait of the Artist Strip Searched <>(under construction)
Black ribbon, laminated tracing paper, wire, French brocade, black ribbon lace, organza lace, Rubelli brocade
265 x 90 cm; Provinence: Venice Biennale 2001
Edition of 2

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The demure artist is spying you (with gleam)Now chew this foul kawakawa leaf nineteen times clearly.Spit it and clench, 2001
from the series A Demure Portrait of the Artist Strip Searched <>(under construction)
Black ribbon, laminated tracing paper, wire, French brocade, black ribbon lace, sequin taffeta
265 x 90 cm; Provinence: Venice Biennale 2001
Edition of 2

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The petite artist is fixing you (with stealth)Next drink this grim brew eleven times darkly. Soak it and flex, 2001
from the series A Demure Portrait of the Artist Strip Searched <>(under construction)
Black ribbon, laminated tracing paper, wire, French brocade, black ribbon lace, sequin taffeta
265 x 90 cm; Provinence: Venice Biennale 2001
Edition of 2

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That same artist has gone, absconded (with discretion)And lo, it was on that same day verily, a faint boy uncurled strangely.His fists unclenched belatedly, his tongue untangled respectably, His voice which was that very voice, his stomping unstompe, 2001
from the series A Demure Portrait of the Artist Strip Searched <>(under construction)
Black ribbon, laminated tracing paper, wire, French rosette lace, Rubelli brocade, plastic leis
190 x 190 cm; Provinence: Venice Biennale 2001
Edition of 2

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