“[The exhibition] is looking at technology and the human interface of technology. We’re all looking at a disgusting element or a point of seepage, where the organic, biological element crosses over in technology,” Josh said.

The exhibition focuses on being fun and playful, with robots throwing things around in all corners of the room. The large gallery space features moving, jiggling, leaking robotic installations, but the exhibition also has some deeper undertones.

“It’s an unusual way of presenting technology in contrast to the aesthetics of technology and progress that we normally get – we get the iPhone, the other robots running around and doing scary and intimidating things and we get beautiful pristine aesthetics of technology and everything is new and exciting about progress. This exhibition is looking at a very different angle of technology, with motivation, points of failure that are in opposition to that beautiful utopian aesthetic of technology that we normally see in advertising and the media”.

“Each of the individual artists have our own take on the relationship between technology and the human and this is the overlap of all of us looking at that question.”

All four artists met at COFA at UNSW and through conversation they realised that through their common interest, it would be very productive for them to work and collaborate together, with slightly different takes on the same theme.

Josh’s work, for example, inspired the name of the exhibition and includes a robot eating a chicken nugget. He has been looking at technology as a performative thing rather than simply a process of something achieving its goal.

“It’s got a big robot arm, you stick a chicken nugget in front of it, press a button and the arm picks up the chicken nugget and goes through the process of slowly digesting the chicken nugget after picking it up…It’s a nice and striking title for an exhibition which is along the lines of technology doing weird things.”

“Louise has this idea of the abject, the disgusting and biological with vivid colours. It’s within in its own coloured set but with an element of disgustingness to it, which fits quite well into the idea of another side of technology…she has some disgusting, overflowing fountains of dubiously coloured and smelling liquids…and it breaks down and becomes the artificial disgusting, the artificial organic.”

“Jason has an irreverent  take on a whole heap of different themes… He’s got a work which is a big sundry machine, which is pretty impressive.”

“Tully has been looking at the imbued life of technology, taking everyday things and giving them an uncanny spirit, an uncanny motion and activity to them, like the cheeseburgers that shake around,all sorts of interesting bits and pieces.”

“And then we’ve got collaborations between us in the gallery space as well.”

Overall the exhibition is very playful. Josh added: “If you’re looking at it through a theory-based side there’s something to get out of it but it’s also a very vibrant and exciting exhibition…it’s a fun show.”

Jason said First Draft gallery has a fantastic model in that they support emerging artist and because they aren’t commercial they give a lot of creative freedom to the artists. “They’re not looking to sell artworks so I don’t think we would have had the opportunity to do a show quite like this that’s so messy and fun in any other gallery,” he said.

‘A Robot Attempts to Eat a Chicken Nugget’ is showing until the 24th July at First Draft Gallery and they will be doing artist talks from 6-8pm on 23rd July. Head along to experience a fun, playful and thought-provoking exhibition that will resonate with kids and adults alike.

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Ms Gilbert says Mark Hanham’s work is very distinct and diverse, and his most recent exhibition featuring 24 pop-art inspired portraitures is no exception.

“His work has very distinctive, iconic elements so that when you look at it you instantly recognise that it is Mark Hanham. You can see by the way that he drops the paint, the way he creates the image and his inspiration behind it. He’s very observant of the human condition, how we are in society. His cityscapes represent the hustle and bustle of the city, where as the pop art has that same sort of vision where he’s looking at faces as periods of time or how people connect an image or a face with a time in their lives.

“[In Face Value] he’s looking at commodities and how we value our faces and looking at that with pop art as a product as well. There’s lots of Marilyn Monroe’s, Audrey Hepburn’s, Charlie Chaplin’s, Elvis and Jimmy Hendrix; quite a few icons that the audience can relate to, so there’s something for everyone.”

Jessica Gilbert believes that being a contemporary artist in the modern age means being in tune with what’s happening around you as well as what’s happening worldwide.

“Mark’s work does very well internationally so as a contemporary artist his vision is looking beyond what’s happening in Sydney or Australia and looking at how the world is moving – in America, Paris or London. Each environment and each country are each in a different style of his work. So as a contemporary artist he’s constantly looking for new inspiration and changing up his collection of work.

“Whether he’s looking at a European, US or Australian market, it’s looking for those different things that those people can connect with.”

Mark has a very unique style of painting that he has built up across his entire career. He started up as quite an abstract painter then moved to a more linear, illustrative style. He is an action painter, so features a unique drip style action. He uses a monotone palate with lots of black, white, red and blue, and repeatedly uses a coke symbol as a common thread across his exhibitions.

“You can recognise it as Mark Hanham’s palate and what he uses to brand his work,” said Jessica.

Mark is a prolific painter so is always creating new works for the gallery. Art enthusiasts can head in to the space every month or few weeks to experience something new. Next up that gallery will be reintroducing some of Mark Hanham’s Paris series.

Mark has done something very different with Face Value by going into portraiture, so the gallery is thrilled about the current exhibition and they believe it will be a very exciting experience for gallery-goers. This fun series of art is being showcased until 26th June, so be sure to head in to the gallery on Crown Street to witness the unique works for yourself.

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