Burn @ 69 Smith Street

69 Smith Street Gallery, Fitzroy (2002)

Chemical Shell (2002, oil on canvas, 50.5 x 25.5cm)	Crotchless Burn Pants (2002, oil on canvas, 25 x 20cm)
Burn Out (2002, oil on canvas, 51 x 61cm)	Chinese Burns (2002, oil on canvas, 20 x 25cm)

A burn is an horrific injury, something we would not wish on any living creature. This exhibition considers an aspect of what happens after serious burns. More specifically Felicity Gordon centres on the pressure 'burn suits' worn by children and adults as they recover. Gordon has painted a series of carefully observed 'burn suits' in intricate detail. The paintings are aesthetically pleasing, giving little reference to the horrific nature of burns. Individual paintings focus on separate garments. The 'burn suits' are individually designed and sewn for each sufferer. The suits are coloured from beige to pastel blue. It is the absent wearer from the tiny baby to the corpulent sized adult who attracts our attention. Gordon has shown the 'burn suits' as psychic second skins. The small sized paintings simultaneous attract and repel our voyeuristic imagination.

Read the media release for "Burn" (pdf format 1p, 328kb)

*** Opening: Saturday 12 October 2002, 3-5pm, 69 Smith Street, Fitzroy 3065 ***

Part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival in 2002