Australian pop artist Linton Meagher re-imagines shell casings, lipsticks and scalpels in first UK solo show.

That’s Grouse”. The British Show surveys the cross-media work of Linton Meagher. Showcasing works with international appeal, “That’s Grouse” The British Show playfully considers the construction of identity, touching upon motifs in contemporary pop culture. Through a painstakingly repetitive artistic practice, Meagher moves familiar, functional objects into the realm of fine art, encouraging and challenging viewers to question their meaning for contemporary society.

“That’s Grouse” is an Australian colloquialism referring to something excellent or fantastic: this tongue-in-cheek exhibition is a mischievous exploration of cultural iconography that’s equally relevant in both Australia and the UK. Through a painstakingly repetitive artistic practice, Meagher moves familiar, functional objects into the realm of fine art, encouraging and challenging viewers to question their meaning for contemporary society

Constructed from hundreds of shotgun cartridges, bullet casings, imitation lipsticks and surgical scalpels, Meagher’s large three-dimensional drawings can be enjoyed on many levels, both visually and conceptually.

The marriage of disparate meanings and objects is a theme throughout Meagher’s work and is particularly evident as repellent objects such as bullets or surgical scalpels are transformed to portray beauty.

Taking inspiration from Jeff Koons’ and Arman’s irreverent approach to art-making materials, Meagher’s practice often examines a symbolically loaded object, such as a shotgun cartridge (referencing both gun control issues in Australia and hunting heritage in the UK), and utilises its aesthetic appeal to encourage the viewer to reflect on the world around them.

“On the surface, these works are just fun, sensual and instantly engaging: with the shotgun cartridge works, the viewer is initially seduced by the beauty of the piece.

However, it is hard to look past the death implied by all the empty cartridges. They force the viewer to ponder the economics of the endless pursuit of thrills and beauty. These works are also an extension of the artistic tradition of exploring mass consumerism and the use of ready-made objects in art.”

Linton Meagher
Linton Meagher is a Australian-born, contemporary Artist. After his studies at the University of Sydney, majoring in Fine Art, Linton went on to exhibit in group and solo exhibitions across Sydney and Hong Kong. In addition Meagher completed commissions for Blackmores and the World Health Organisation.

Meagher’s art work has evolved from utilising traditional methods such as oil on canvas, to working semi sculpturally, by using resin and Perspex to bring his vision into three dimensions. Interested in consumerism and the impermanence of time, notably Linton also trained in medicine, which gives further inspiration into a practice exploring temporality.
~Linton is not a usual artist, his day job is as a psychiatrist, who deals with woman who feel the pressure to look good. He draws attention to this by manipulating what mediums which are stripped of their original functions. Further information can be found at www.lintonmeagher.com

COMODAA Gallery
Launched in 2009, COMODAA was established to promote Australian art to a wider international audience and give talented contemporary artists new exposure. COMODAA’s mission is to present and promote contemporary Australian art by an invited group of promising, collectable and highly respected artists.
COMODAA is a privately owned independent art business that is not tied to any other gallery, dealer or auction house. This enables greater flexibility and provides more of a personal bespoke service to clients.
Through a regular exhibition schedule that started in September 2009 COMODAA will undertake various solo and group exhibitions in London to showcase the current contemporary artists of Non-Indigenous and Indigenous Australia.