First major Australian survey of Thomas Demand’s work opens at the National Gallery of Victoria

MELBOURNE.- One of the world’s most influential contemporary artists, Thomas Demand, is the subject of a new exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria.

The exhibition is the first major Australian survey of the artist’s work and comprises large scale photographs and films never before shown in Australia.

NGV Director, Tony Ellwood said the addition of Thomas Demand to the NGV’s exhibition schedule is part of an exciting and ambitious summer program.

“When the opportunity came up to hold an exhibition of Thomas Demand’s work this summer, it was just too good to miss. Thomas Demand will be part of a great summer program at the NGV and has been timed to coincide with the Jeff Wall Photographs exhibition being held at NGV Australia”

Thomas Demand, Labor / Laboratory 2000. C-Print / Perspex, 180.0 × 268.0 cm. Courtesy Taka Ishii Gallery, Sprüth Magers Berlin London, Esther Schipper, Berlin, Matthew Marks Gallery© Thomas Demand, VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn / VISCOPY, Sydney.

“We are offering a two‐for‐one ticket for Thomas Demand and Jeff Wall Photographs, so visitors to the NGV can experience the work of two major artists of international contemporary photography for one ticket price,” said Mr. Ellwood.

Works in the exhibition span the artist’s career from 1997 to 2012. Recent works presented in the exhibition include Control Room (pictured), which depicts the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant and Tribute, a work based on images taken at the site of tragic mass panic at Europe’s biggest rave party.

Susan van Wyk, NGV Curator of Photography said Thomas Demand is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading contemporary artists.

“Thomas has a unique style in which he creates paper models of objects and scenes, often taken from media sources like flickr or newspaper reports. These intricate life size models are then photographed.”

“The results are disquieting images that subvert our understanding of reality and fiction and draws attention to how we engage with the media and modern technologies,” said Ms Van Wyk.

Thomas Demand is on display from 30 November to 17 March 2013 at NGV International.

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