Carriageworks has announced a major new solo exhibition of work by Clothing Store resident artist Dean Cross to be presented from 5 November 2021 – 30 January 2022. Icarus, my Son is a semi-autobiographical exhibition, presented by Carriageworks in partnership with Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, that takes inspiration from the ancient Greek tragedy of Icarus and Daedalus and examines themes universal to the experience of those in rural and remote communities who seek to expand their horizons. Featuring new video, sculptural and installation works by Cross, Icarus, my Son investigates ideas of home, ambition, cataclysm and loss.
Carriageworks CEO Blair French said, ‘Carriageworks is proud to present this important exhibition by Dean Cross, in partnership with Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, marking our first major collaboration with a regional gallery. Dean has been making incisive, important and on occasion moving work over recent years. Icarus, my Son sees the expansion of his practice, drawing on and amplifying elements of his own experience to more broadly evoke and embrace shared experiences of departure, journey and connection to home.’
Artist Dean Cross said, ‘This exhibition arose from asking simple questions: What does it mean to be regional? Rural? Remote? Remote from where? To where should I focus my aspirations? Where exactly is the so-called centre – and what will I find if I get there? Centre / non-centre binaries create division and reinforce ‘West is best’ attitudes, which continually reveal their failings to us. Icarus, my Son is both an ode to my own journey and a question to every young Icarus still out there, delicately perched on ambition’s ledge – What do you want, and how far are you willing to go to get it?’
Dean Cross is one of 10 artists and collectives who are the current 2021 artists in residence at the Clothing Store at Carriageworks. Icarus, my Son was developed and created during this residency on site at Carriageworks.
Icarus, my Son will first be staged at Goulburn Regional Art Gallery from 2 July to 28 August and was commissioned as part of their new biennial award The Good Initiative, of which Cross is the inaugural recipient. Director at Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, Gina Mobayed, will curate the first iteration with Carriageworks’ Director of Programs, Daniel Mudie Cunningham, curating its second iteration in close dialogue with Mobayed.
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