Monash University > News and Events > Monash Memo

Nobody likes a show off

1 July 2009

Richard Lewer, True stories – Australian crime 2008 (detail).

Richard Lewer: Nobody Likes a Show Off will open today at the Monash University Museum of Art, continuing MUMA's series of exhibitions focusing upon the work of significant artists at mid-career.

Originally from New Zealand, Lewer moved to Australia in 1996. His work is marked by a sceptical humour and a focus upon the darker sides of human behaviour, place and social identity.

The exhibition features key works from public and private collections in Australia and New Zealand including Lewer's epic 'True stories – Australian crime series', painted on acoustic tiles sourced from police interrogation rooms, and documenting some of Australia's most notorious perpetrators of crime and their subjects.

Lewer's major Stations of the Cross series, recently acquired for the Monash University collection, will also feature.

Curator Kirrily Hammond said the exhibition covered the scope of the artist's practice, from painting, drawing and animation to performance and installation.

"His diverse practice involves close observation and highly-subjective encounters with family, sport, religious and criminal subjects, leading to insightful and absurd narrative reflections on good and evil, confession and redemption and life and mortality," Ms Hammond said.

Monash staff and students are invited to attend the exhibition's opening celebration to be held at the Museum on Saturday 18 July, from 2-5 pm.

A number of public programs will coincide with the exhibition.

Richard Lewer: Nobody Likes a Show Off runs from 1 July to 5 September at the Monash University Museum of Art, Ground Floor, Building 55, Clayton campus.

For further information visit the MUMA website or telephone +61 3 9905 4217.