Nature Dance is a selection of works that reflects different versions of nature. From divine light to trees having sex, A Constructed World's project makes space for nature as a constructed space, something clearly embedded in human knowledge and also something outside-of-us. 

Exhibition Dates: 2 May – 1 June 2013

Nature Dance is a selection of works that reflects different versions of nature. From divine light to trees having sex, A Constructed World's project makes space for nature as a constructed space, something clearly embedded in human knowledge and also something outside-of-us. 

Reflecting the artists' multi-model practice, this exhibition brings together paintings, video works, installations and photographs produced over the last decade. The nomenclature of nature draws diverse and plural aspects and events into its category and is reflected in the selection of works presented. A floor installation of objects swirling around a hole in the ozone layer, Universal love/unconditional regard 1996–2013, is also represented in a painted version with the same title, while a painting from 2012, Monkeys on a boat, depicts a boat load of monkeys, in fact A Constructed World's colleagues, out at sea playing guitar and cooking up a pot of mussels. It's a state of nature.

On a more sombre note two paintings Sex and Death from 2006, painted in an uncharacteristic expressionist style, searches for some kind of meaning. The painting Ball World (V) shows a girl balancing on a ball, a moment initially played out in a live performance, the painting becomes second nature to the act, or first impulse. There is a balancing act here between nature and its representations and even though we address nature as all powerful, it tends to exist as a network of things-we-already-know.


A Constructed World is the collaboration between Jacqueline Riva and Geoff Lowe formed in 1993. Major retrospectives of their work have been presented at the Ian Potter Museum of Art in Melbourne (2012), the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art in Melbourne (2007) and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney (1997). In 2014 a survey exhibition will be presented at the Museum Villa Croce in Genova. Performances and further solo exhibitions have been held at Les Laboratoires d'Aubervilliers in France (2013), the FRAC Champagne-Ardenne in Reims, France (2012), the Royal Academy of Fine Art in Stockholm (2011); ‘Sculpture International’ in Rotterdam, The Netherlands (2011); Villa Arson in Nice , France (2010); CNEAI, in Chatou, France (2008), CAPC Museum of Contemporary Art in Bordeaux, France (2008) and Artist Space, New York (2000). A Constructed World’s publications include Artfan magazine (1993-2002), Speech Web Magazine (2005-2009), and errors deceits mistakes (2006-present). Their work is held in numerous public collections including: Bibliothèque de Genève, Switzerland; Fonds municipal d’art contemporain de la Ville de Paris (FMAC, Paris); La bibliothèque du Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris; La bibliothèque Kandinsky, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris; Centre national édition art image; Chatou FR (Cneai, Chatou); Care Of, Milan; Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney; Monash University Museum of Art, Melbourne; Heide Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne; City of Port Phillip, St Kilda, Melbourne and private collections in Italy, France and Australia. Geoff Lowe has been exhibiting with Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery since 1983.

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A Constructed World Sex and death, 2006; alkryd resin and oil on canvas; 2 parts: 190 x 209 cm and 190 x 206 cm; enquire
Sex and death, 2006
alkryd resin and oil on canvas
2 parts: 190 x 209 cm and 190 x 206 cm
A Constructed World Inherited Models (2), 1995; laser transfer print on rice paper on synthetic polymer paint on canvas; 152 x 122 cm; enquire
Inherited Models (2), 1995
laser transfer print on rice paper on synthetic polymer paint on canvas
152 x 122 cm
A Constructed World Treesex, 2012; costumes, mixed media; dimensions variable; enquire
Treesex, 2012
costumes, mixed media
dimensions variable
A Constructed World Universal love/unconditional regard no.3, 1996; synthetic polymer paint, oil and laser transfer prints on canvas; 2 parts: 182 x 122 cm x 188 x 117 cm; enquire
Universal love/unconditional regard no.3, 1996
synthetic polymer paint, oil and laser transfer prints on canvas
2 parts: 182 x 122 cm x 188 x 117 cm
A Constructed World Monkeys on a boat, 2012; synthetic polymer paint on canvas; 187 x 234 cm; enquire
Monkeys on a boat, 2012
synthetic polymer paint on canvas
187 x 234 cm
A Constructed World Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear #3, 2009; screenprint on paper; 176 x 120 cm; Edition of 300; enquire
Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear #3, 2009
screenprint on paper
176 x 120 cm
Edition of 300
A Constructed World Ball World, 2012; synthetic polymer paint on canvas; 185 x 117 cm; enquire
Ball World, 2012
synthetic polymer paint on canvas
185 x 117 cm
A Constructed World Repetitions and re-occurrences, 2012; 10 lambda prints (framed); 35 x 35 cm (each); Edition of 5 + AP 2; enquire
Repetitions and re-occurrences, 2012
10 lambda prints (framed)
35 x 35 cm (each)
Edition of 5 + AP 2
A Constructed World Australian Fable, 2012; 4 parts: fibre-tipped marker on glass, frame, 33 x 60 cm; fibre-tipped marker on paper, pins, 50 x 67 cm; printed paper, frame, 32 x 24 cm; video: Schiavo, 2003, DVD, 1 min 18 sec loop, edition of 5; enquire
Australian Fable, 2012
4 parts: fibre-tipped marker on glass, frame, 33 x 60 cm; fibre-tipped marker on paper, pins, 50 x 67 cm; printed paper, frame, 32 x 24 cm; video: Schiavo, 2003, DVD, 1 min 18 sec loop, edition of 5
A Constructed World Speech and What Archive Medicine show, 2010; vinyl records, recorded at GRRR JAMMING SQUEAK, a public artwork by Paola Pivi, Sculpture International Rotterdam,; 31.5 x 31.5 cm; Edition of 300; enquire
Speech and What Archive Medicine show, 2010
vinyl records, recorded at GRRR JAMMING SQUEAK, a public artwork by Paola Pivi, Sculpture International Rotterdam,
31.5 x 31.5 cm
Edition of 300
A Constructed World Charts, 2012-13; Fibre-tipped marker on paper, tape; 280 x 267.5 cm (variable); enquire
Charts, 2012-13
Fibre-tipped marker on paper, tape
280 x 267.5 cm (variable)
A Constructed World Still life (with bullock's heart) into landscape, 1972; synthetic polymer paint on canvas on plywood; 30 x 46 cm; enquire
Still life (with bullock's heart) into landscape, 1972
synthetic polymer paint on canvas on plywood
30 x 46 cm
A Constructed World Fire on the water, 2005; oil on canvas; 27.5 x 38 cm; enquire
Fire on the water, 2005
oil on canvas
27.5 x 38 cm
A Constructed World Transvestite, 1995-2012; electric guitar, iPod; enquire
Transvestite, 1995-2012
electric guitar, iPod
A Constructed World Death Globes, 2012; synthetic polymer paint and collage on paper; 4 parts, each: 14-19 cm ; enquire
Death Globes, 2012
synthetic polymer paint and collage on paper
4 parts, each: 14-19 cm
A Constructed World Universal love/unconditional regard, 1996-2013; synthetic polymer paint, oil and laser transfer prints on canvas; 2 parts: 182 x 122 cm and 188 x 117 cm; enquire
Universal love/unconditional regard, 1996-2013
synthetic polymer paint, oil and laser transfer prints on canvas
2 parts: 182 x 122 cm and 188 x 117 cm
A Constructed World Trees+, 2012; video 16:9 ratio, colour, sound, ; 4 min 18 sec; Edition of 5 + AP 2; enquire
Trees+, 2012
video 16:9 ratio, colour, sound,
4 min 18 sec
Edition of 5 + AP 2