Mr Rodney Forbes - Researcher Profile

Rodney Forbes

Address

Gippsland Centre for Art & Design
Monash University, Gippsland Campus

Biography


Born in Melbourne, Rodney Forbes trained as an electronic systems technician. In 1976-7 he travelled widely in Asia, the Middle East and Europe, working on electronic game machines in London. On his return to Australia he studied Visual Arts and has since exhibited regularly. He lives in Gippsland and is a Senior Lecturer in Visual Arts at Gippsland Centre for Art and Design, Monash University, where he is the Centre Director and Curator of Switchback Gallery.

Forbes is interested in how people tell stories. His work is in figurative narrative painting and uses autobiographical and incident-as-metaphor methods to explore wider issues of knowing and belonging in oral traditions such as working class, childrens’, artisan and mens' subcultures. It draws on pop, cartooning and joke narrative structures within contemporary culture. He is also active in cross-cultural work, promoting connection with Australian indigenous cultures, including curatorial work and supervising indigenous Masters candidates.

He exhibits at Australian Galleries, Melbourne, where he has had 14 solo exhibitions. His work is represented in the Australian National Gallery, Regional galleries and numerous private collections

Rodney Forbes works in figurative-narrative painting, examining meta-narratives of oral cultures. His practice draws on cartooning, pop and shamanistic traditions. He is interested in the story telling of cultural crossroads such as Chicago, Liverpool and Melbourne, which engender rich cultures of story-painting, cartooning, humour and music. Comparative studies of travellers' and locals' tales are a theme, as are stories from artisan, masculine and childrens' subcultures. His work also honours the healing dimension of story-telling and painting.

"In my work I use incident-as-metaphor, surrealist juxtaposition, and symbolist synaesthesia to illuminate significant narratives. One surrealist (and poetic) method of examining pairs of realities is to compare those which are distant but apposite. My recent projects examine these distant but 'rhyming' stories through painting to reveal deeper poetic connections and illuminate paradoxes."

A project which explored these methodologies was the curated group exhibition 'Dancing made a man out of me ii' at Switchback Gallery, Monash University. It explored dancing as a male rite of passage and was the subject of an interview with Amanda Smith on Artworks, ABC Radio National.

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/artworks/stories/2009/2690223.htm

Research/professional activities

A recent curatorial project was the international exchange group exhibition undercurrent at Switchback Gallery, Monash University and the School of Fine Art Gallery, Canterbury University. Co-curated with Julian Holcroft and Robin Neate, it surveyed postgraduate work at Gippsland Centre for Art and Design and the School of Fine Art, Canterbury University.

My most recent solo exhibition project was Breathe, an exhibition of paintings and prints at Australian Galleries Painting and Sculpture, Melbourne, which examined metaphors and stories around breathing.

http://www.australiangalleries.com.au/index.php?option=com_ag&task=exhibit

I supervise postgraduate candidates and have an interest in cross-cultural research and indigenous culture recovery, working with Australian and North American First Nations artists.

 

Keywords

storytelling, painting, cross-cultural, figurative

Qualifications

MASTER OF ARTS
Institution: Monash University
Year awarded: 2000
GRAD. DIP IN VISUAL ARTS
Institution: Gippsland Institute of Advanced Education
Year awarded: 1984
DIPLOMA OF ARTS (VISUAL ARTS)
Institution: Gippsland Institute of Advanced Education
Year awarded: 1983

Publications

Journal Articles

Forbes, R., 2010, Flash as a rat with a gold tooth: Rona Green's strange familiars, Imprint [P], vol 45, issue 1, Print Council of Australia, Melbourne Vic Australia, p. 12.

Forbes, R., 2010, Irene Ridgeway: Just for the Record, Imprint [P], vol 45, issue 3, Print Council of Australia, Melbourne Vic Australia, p. 31.

Other

Forbes, R., 2011, Bridging the Gap: works by the Mainstreet group, Curator of group exhibition; writing the catalogue essay; delivering opening address, Switchback Gallery Monash University Gippsland Campus.

Forbes, R., 2011, Charles Farrugia: micro-mirror7, Curator of solo exhibition; writing the catalogue essay; delivering opening address, Switchback Gallery Monash University Gippsland Campus.

Forbes, R., 2011, In clocks, Australian Galleries Derby Street, Australian Galleries, Melbourne Vic Australia, 22 November 2011 to 18 December 2011.

Forbes, R., 2011, Kids Cube, Tellers and Listeners, Gippsland Gallery Sale.

Forbes, R., 2011, Natalie Ryan - End Stage, Curator of solo exhibition; writing the catalogue essay; opening address, Switchback Gallery Monash University Gippsland Campus.

Forbes, R., 2011, Nether Regions with helm & binnacle, St Helier's Gallery, The Convent, Melbourne, Sr Heliers Street Gallery, Melbourne Vic Australia, 7 September 2011 to 2 October 2011.

Forbes, R., 2011, Self Conscious: Contemporary Potraiture, Opening address, Monash University Vic Australia, Churchill Vic Australia.

Forbes, R., 2011, Truncated Lungfish, Gippsland Centre for Art & Design, Monash University, Churchill, Gippsland Centre for Art & Design, Switchback Gallery Churchill Vic Australia, 7 September 2011 to 2 October 2011.

Forbes, R., 2010, 12 Crack Men, Curation of solo exhibition, Churchill, Australia.

Forbes, R., Atkins, R., 2010, 52 - a print exchange portfolio, Geelong Gallery, Rona Green, Melbourne Australia, 30/01/2010 - 14/03/2010.

Forbes, R., 2010, Breathe, Australian Galleries, Monash University, Melbourne Australia, 31 August - 19 September 2010.

Forbes, R., 2010, Catherine Laudenbach: Please be Careful, Curator of solo exhibition; writing the catalogue essay; opening address, Switchback Gallery Monash University Gippsland Campus.

Forbes, R., 2010, Courtney Hall: girl on fire, Curation of solo exhibition, Switchback Gallery, Churchill, Australia.

Forbes, R., 2010, Fiona West: Continental Drift, Curation of solo exhibition, Churchill, Australia.

Forbes, R., 2010, John Leslie Prize. The vision Splendid: Beauty in the Natural World, John Leslie Prize, Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale, Victoria, Australia.

Forbes, R., 2010, Naked landscapes of Gippsland and beyond, Exhibition Opening Address by Rodney Forbes, Monash University, Churchill, Australia.

Forbes, R., 2010, Personal Allegories and Other Caprices, Exhibition Opening Address by Rodney Forbes, Monash University, Sale, Victoria, Australia.

Forbes, R., 2010, See the world, Curation of group exhibition, Churchill, Australia.

Forbes, R., 2010, The Healing Eye, Linda Fish The Bundle, vol other, Wangaratta Exhibitions Gallery, Wangaratta Vic Australia, pp. 2-3.

Forbes, R., 2010, The Koorie Footprints to Higher Education Print Exhibition, Co-curation of group exhibition, Switchback Gallery, Churchill, Australia.

Forbes, R., Holcroft, J., 2010, Under Current: a trans-tasman exhange, Co-curation of group exhibition, Churchill, Australia and Christchurch, New Zealand.

Forbes, R.M., Vardy, A., 2009, Art What's On, Art What's On, ABC Radio Gippsland, Sale, Vic.

Forbes, R.M., 2009, Bill Young: Landscape and Comfort Paintings, Opening speech, Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale.

Forbes, R.M., 2009, Little Man (shown actual size), Switchback Gallery, Switchback Gallery, Monash University, Churchill, Vic, 1 to 30 July 2009.

Forbes, R.M., 2009, Never give a sword to a man who can't dance, Catalogue essay for 'dancing made a man out of me ii', Switchback Gallery, Monash University, Churchill, Vic, p. 1.

Forbes, R.M., 2009, S.W.A.L.K, Opening speech for Amy Christensen's exhibition: 'S.W.A.L.K', Arc Yinnar, Yinnar, Vic.

Forbes, R.M., 2009, Saving our Skins, Catalogue essay in 'Rona Green: Obliquity', Latrobe Regional Gallery, Morwell, Vic, p. 2.

Forbes, R.M., 2009, The Body, Curation, Switchback Gallery, Monash University, Churchill, Vic.

Forbes, R.M., 2009, The Body, Catalogue essay, Gippsland Centre for Art and Design, Churchill, Vic, p. 1.

Forbes, R.M., 2009, dancing made a man out of me ii, Exhibition curation, Switchback Gallery, Monash University, Churchill, Vic.

Forbes, R.M., 2009, dancing made a man out of me ii, Artworks, ABC Radio National, Melbourne, Vic.

Forbes, R.M., 2009, short pants, learn to dance, romance, Switchback Gallery, Switchback Gallery, Monash University, Churchill, Vic, 16 September to 1 October 2009.

Forbes, R.M., 2008, Printmaking in the Gippsland Centre for Art and Design, Faculty of Art and Design, Monash Gippsland, Vic, Short article, Imprint, Melbourne, Vic, pp. 9-10.

Forbes, R.M., 2008, Slow Painting, Australian Galleries, Australian Galleries, Melbourne, Vic, 5 to 20 April 2008.

Forbes, R.M., 2006, Rodney Forbes 1995-2005, Exhibition Catalogue Essay, Latrobe Regional Gallery, Morwell, Victoria, Australia, First, pp. 1-13.

Forbes, R.M., 2006, Solo Exhibition, Latrobe Regional Gallery, 1 April to 7 May, 2006.

Forbes, R.M., 2006, Two Rivers, Solo exhibition from 29 August to 17 September, 2006 at the Australian Galleries, 35 Derby Street, Collingwood, Victoria., Australian Galleries, 35 Derby St, Collingwood Vic Australia.

Forbes, R.M., 2006, Two Rivers, The Deep End, ABC Radio National, Melbourne Vic Australia.

Forbes, R.M., 2005, Jacques Cadry Memorial Art Prize, Mitchell Galleries, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 22/07/05 to 07/08/05.

Forbes, R.M., 2004, 24 Hour Love presented by Clubs in the Pines, Switchback Gallery, Churchill, Victoria, 30/07/04.

McDean, M., McPherson, M.J., Purdy, S.L., Forbes, R.M., 2004, The Found Project, La Trobe Regional Gallery, La Trobe Regional Gallery, Morwell Vic Australia, 18 September 2004 to 31 October 2004.

Forbes, R.M., 2004, When You're a Boy, Australian Galleries, Australian Galleries, Collingwood Vic Australia, 6 April 2004 to 2 May 2004.

Forbes, R.M., 2002, Jon Campbell's Rock the Boat, Switchback Gallery, Switchback Gallery, Churchill Vic Australia, 14/08/02 - 25/08/02.

Forbes, R.M., 2002, Rocket Science, Australian Galleries, Australian Galleries, Collingwood Vic Australia, 23/07/02 - 10/08/02.

Forbes, R., 2001, More Songs about Dancing and Horses, Australian Galleries, Collingwood VIC Australia, 13 March 2001 to 31 March 2001.

Forbes, R.M., 2000, Dancing Made a Man Out of Me, Switchback Gallery, Monash University, Churchill Vic Australia, 18 August - 7 September 2000.

Forbes, R.M., 2000, The Place of a Storytelling in Painting, Faculty Gallery, Monash University, Caulfield, Vic, 1/02/00 - 11/02/00.

Forbes, R.M., 2000, The Place of the Story in Painting.

Forbes, R., 1998, Rodney Forbes 'Like Ice Like Fire', Australian Galleries, Melbourne, Australian Galleries Melbourne, Melbourne Vic Australia, 8-26 October 1998.

Teaching Commitment

MVA4001

MVA4002

MVA5001

VIS1111

VIS2103

VIS3106

Community Service

Rodney serves on the Latrobe Regional Gallery Advisory Committee, The Faculty of Education Faculty Booard and is the convener of the Indigenous Reference Committee for the Koorie Cohort. He is regularly involved in Prize judging and juries, presenting opening addresses for exhibitions and writing catalogue essays for artists.

Postgraduate Research Supervisions

Current Supervision

Program of Study:
(MASTER'S BY RESEARCH).
Thesis Title:
'Codex Infinitium (the infinite book).
Supervisors:
Forbes, R (Main), Atkins, R (Associate).
Program of Study:
(MASTER'S BY RESEARCH).
Thesis Title:
Booyeegigat Yenna nonnoongarrang Gananoonoon (Create Your Thoughts): A Creative Exploration of Transition and Transformation in my Identity.
Supervisors:
Forbes, R (Main), Atkins, R (Associate).
Program of Study:
(MASTER'S BY RESEARCH).
Thesis Title:
Don't stare so romantically: a studio investigation.
Supervisors:
Forbes, R (Main).
Program of Study:
(MASTER'S BY RESEARCH).
Thesis Title:
Exploring hybrid identities in Urban Aboriginal art.
Supervisors:
Forbes, R (Main).
Program of Study:
(MASTER'S BY RESEARCH).
Thesis Title:
Souvenirs of the self. Animals: place and transformation..
Supervisors:
Forbes, R (Main).
Program of Study:
(MASTER'S BY RESEARCH).
Thesis Title:
The Dancing Brolga: A Musical Journey of Deepening Connection to Identity.
Supervisors:
Forbes, R (Main).
Program of Study:
(MASTER'S BY RESEARCH).
Thesis Title:
The observer effect- a practice based investigation into how the brain creates the illusion of reali.
Supervisors:
Forbes, R (Main).
Program of Study:
(MASTER'S BY RESEARCH).
Thesis Title:
There's Something in the Ice: Arctic Space.
Supervisors:
Forbes, R (Main).
Program of Study:
(MASTER'S BY RESEARCH).
Thesis Title:
Tilting at Windmills: Personal Allegories and other Caprices.
Supervisors:
Forbes, R (Main).

Completed Supervision

Student:
Alder, A.
Program of Study:
Out there and outback; narratives of place post Drysdale and Nolan. (Masters) 2007.
Supervisors:
Forbes, R (Main).
Student:
Cashman, S.
Program of Study:
The Presence of Absence and the Ephemeral: A Studio Investigation. (Masters) 2006.
Supervisors:
Forbes, R (Main), Purdy, S (Joint).
Student:
Dunn, V.
Program of Study:
A Studio Investigation: The Politics of Portraiture. (Masters) 2004.
Supervisors:
Forbes, R (Main), Adams, J (Associate).
Student:
Elkington, J.
Program of Study:
A Studio Investigation: Approaching the Sublime through the Musical, the Exotic and the 'Perfect'. (Masters) 2002.
Supervisors:
Forbes, R (Main), Adams, J (Associate).
Student:
Green, R.
Program of Study:
Surface value: a studio investigation of identity. (Masters) 2012.
Supervisors:
Forbes, R (Main).
Student:
Hanning, A.
Program of Study:
Phantasmagorical dreams and desires. (PHD) 2008.
Supervisors:
Forbes, R (Joint), Nelson, R (Joint-Co).
Student:
Ippoliti, M.
Program of Study:
The Place of Pattern and Decoration in Contemporary Art Practice. (Masters) 2007.
Supervisors:
Roberts, J (Main), Forbes, R (Joint).
Student:
Laudenbach, C.
Program of Study:
Please be Careful. (Masters) 2011.
Supervisors:
Forbes, R (Main).
Student:
Mcdonald, K.
Program of Study:
Zone of Sensation; Finding Oneself Beyond Sight. (Masters) 2012.
Supervisors:
Forbes, R (Main), Atkins, R (Associate).
Student:
Runnegar, B.
Program of Study:
Landscapes of Desire and Melancholy: A Studio Investigation. (Masters) 2007.
Supervisors:
Forbes, R (Main).
Student:
Tandori, E.
Program of Study:
Landscape and Desire. (Masters) 2011.
Supervisors:
Forbes, R (Main), Crawford, M (Joint).
Student:
Thorpe, W.
Program of Study:
WATBALIMBA: Language of Song, Story and Dance. (Masters) 2011.
Supervisors:
Somerville, M (Main), Forbes, R (Associate).