Your choc-mint pelvik floor is so boring is a solo-exhibition by Melbourne-based artist Anna Hoyle to be held at Linden New Art from 4 December 2021 to 27 February 2022. This glorious collection of recent ‘fictional’ book paintings and works on paper that have been inspired by social trends such as the self-help book and the health industry. Hoyle’s work also addresses more serious issues related to consumerism and the environment with an ironic and sometimes absurd approach that combines comedy and tragedy in equal measure.
This exhibition examines the language and ideas that can be found in the plethora of self-help and wellness guides, as well as in advertising and social media. Hoyle explores the fakery involved with these ultimately manipulative platforms that often leave us feeling inadequate rather than empowered.
These works showcase the artist’s vibrant graphic style, which mimics the zeal and optimism of the industries that Hoyle subtly critiques. Reflecting on her use of gouache and acrylic on fabriano paper, Anna says: “Gouache paint is both direct and luscious, flat and unforgiving: a beautiful medium with which to humorously play with socio-cultural habits and language in a graphic manner“.
Anna says: “I love painting silly serious books and pool noodles and leggings. I also have a long history of collecting the words, phrases and objects of our consumer culture. In 1991, I completed a suite of etchings and lithographs as part of my Bachelor of Education in Visual Arts that was inspired by car and panty liner advertising and chockas full of related text and lingo. My first job was as a ticket writer, writing little signs for a chocolate company… and I fell in love with type, layout and the ‘look’ and rhythm of words.”
Anna has a Master of Fine Art by Research from Monash University and a First-Class Honours degree from The Victorian College of Arts. She has received numerous awards for her works on paper. In 2020 Anna was shortlisted with Anxious Sponges and Skuntz Lycra for The Mornington Peninsula National Works On Paper Art Award. Hoyle’s work is held in The National Gallery of Australia, Artbank, The University of Queensland Art Museum, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, SBS and La Trobe University. She is currently working on a book of her fictional book paintings as well as lecturing in Graphic Design at the Victorian College of the Arts.
Opening: Friday 3 December, 2021, 6pm
Exhibition dates: 4 Dec 2021 — 27 Feb 2022
lindenarts.org/exhibitions/linden-new-art/anna-hoyle/
Linden New Art:
26 Acland Street, St Kilda 3182
