Alex Seton, Oilstone 01: Transparent, 2015Bianco carrara marble, stainless steel, engine oil, plastic tarpaulin / 42x48x100 cm© Mark Pokorny

A L E X S E T O NT H E J O U R N E Y

With the support of the Australia Council for the Arts

ALEX SETONTHE JOURNEY

Solo exh ib i t ion f rom September 10 to October 24 2015Open ing Thursday 10 September f rom 6:00 pm

62, rue de Turbigo 75003 - +33 1 42 74 32 36 - galerieparisbeijing.com - paris@galerieparisbeijing.com

Australian artist Alex Seton investigates the complex relationship between form and substance through different artistic practices such as photography, video, sculpture and installation. He is best known for his beguiling marble carving to which he applies his YLÄULK�JYHM[ZTHUZOPW� PU�VYKLY� [V�JYLH[L�\UL_WLJ[LK�HUK� SPNO[� MVYTZ��VYKPUHY`�HUK�`L[�highly symbolic. By infusing the rich heritage of Classical statuary with contemporary concerns, Seton gives weight to the issues we face here and now.

Galerie Paris-Beijing is delighted to present The Journey, his most recent and unseen project, which explores the international issue of asylum seekers. This new body of works incorporates installations and Carrara marble sculptures alluding to the perilous sea jour-UL`�VM�TPSSPVUZ�VM�WLVWSL�ÅLLPUN�^HY�HUK�MHTPUL��A boat motor, a rubber dinghy, a life jacket, a paddle or an anchor become potent remin-ders of all those individual lives being risked everyday in the hope of a better tomorrow.

The Journey unpicks the universal elements of the story of aspiration employing narrative techniques. The idea of the quest or journey has long been embodied in the structure of storytelling traditions, as basic and fundamental themes that express the commonality of the human experience. At the heart of metaphor of the hero's journey are a series of trials and tribulations that must be endured to reach an end goal. This exhibition is a critical contemplation of this universal narrative, expressed in a carefully staged sequence of carved marble sculptures and installations.Alex Seton’s scenography leads the viewer through the spaces of Galerie Paris-Beijing in a metaphoric “Odyssey” of human pains and hopes.

Alex Seton was born in 1977 in Sydney, where he currently lives and works. His work has been exhibited extensively in Australia, in Asia, in Europe and in the United States, in museums, galleries and contemporary art fairs. His work has also been included in prestigious private and public collec-tions.:L[VU�ÄYZ[�L_WSVYLK�[OL�[OLTL�VM�PTTPNYH[PVU�PU������^P[O�OPZ�^VYR�Someone died trying to have a life like mine, a large scale installation created for the Adelaide Biennial Dark Heart, Art Gallery of South Australia (Ade-SHPKL��������^OPJO�KLHS[�ZWLJPÄJHSS`�^P[O�[OL�(\Z[YHSPHU�L_WLYPLUJL��W\ZOPUN�IHJR�HNHPUZ[�[OL�OHYKSPUL�WVSPJPLZ�of the current Australian political landscape. The Journey�PZ�:L[VU�Z�ÄYZ[�SVVR�H[�[OLZL�PZZ\LZ�VU�H�\UP]LYZHS�level, and highlights the struggles which are common to all people, and all nations.

OILSTONE

Oilstone 01 : Transparent, 2015Oilstone 02: Transcendent, 2015Bianca Carrara, tarp, oil, steelInstalled dimensions variable

Folded Zodiac 01, 2015Folded Zodiac 02, 2015Bianca Carrara, tarp, rope, spigot56 x 42 x 35 cm

FOLDED ZODIAC

DELUGE IN A CUP

Deluge in a Cup, 2015Bianca Carrara, tarp, water, steelInstalled dimensions variable

REFUGE

Refuge, 2015Bianca Carrara, tarp, eyelets110 x 120 x 170 cm

THE BEST OF ALL POSSIBLE WORLDS

The Best of All Possible Worlds, 2015Bianca Carrara, tarp, tin, bucket, sand, light Installed dimensions variable

ALEX SETON CVS e l e c t e d P r i z e s

2 0 1 4�����������0S�/LUYH\_�0U[LYUH[PVUHS�:J\SW[\YL�(^HYK��8\LYJL[H��0[HS �̀�ÄUHSPZ[ University of Queensland National Artists’ Self Portrait Prize, University of Queensland, ‘People’s Choice’ award

2 0 1 3 ���������>`UUL�7YPaL��(Y[�.HSSLY`�VM�5L^�:V\[O�>HSLZ��ÄUHSPZ[

2 0 1 2 Art OMI Australia, Art OMI International Artists Residency, New York, USA

S e l e c t e d G r o u p S h o w

2 0 1 4 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Dark Heart, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide

2 0 1 3 Australia: Contemporary Voices, The Fine Art Society Contemporary, London, UK Gravity of Sculpture: Part II, Dorsky Gallery Curatorial Programs, New York, USA

2 0 1 2 Variable Truth, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, Sydney

C O L L E C T I O N S

Albury Regional Gallery, Albury Artbank Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide Art Gallery Society of New South Wales, Sydney ARTS ACT, Canberra Australian War Memorial, Canberra Canberra Civic Collection, Canberra Danish Royal Art Collection, Copenhagen, Denmark Fidelity Worldwide Investment, Hong Kong and Sydney HBO Collection, New York, USA Lane Cove Municipal Council, Sydney Newcastle Art Gallery, Newcastle National Gallery of Australia, Canberra Patrick Corrigan Collection, Sydney Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane St Ignatius College Collection, Sydney University of Queensland Art Museum, Brisbane

S e l e c t e d P r i z e s

2 0 1 4�����������0S�/LUYH\_�0U[LYUH[PVUHS�:J\SW[\YL�(^HYK��8\LYJL[H��0[HS �̀�ÄUHSPZ[ University of Queensland National Artists’ Self Portrait Prize, University of Queensland, ‘People’s Choice’ award

2 0 1 3 ���������>`UUL�7YPaL��(Y[�.HSSLY`�VM�5L^�:V\[O�>HSLZ��ÄUHSPZ[

2 0 1 2 Art OMI Australia, Art OMI International Artists Residency, New York, USA

S e l e c t e d G r o u p S h o w

2 0 1 4 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Dark Heart, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide

2 0 1 3 Australia: Contemporary Voices, The Fine Art Society Contemporary, London, UK Gravity of Sculpture: Part II, Dorsky Gallery Curatorial Programs, New York, USA

2 0 1 2 Variable Truth, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, Sydney

C O L L E C T I O N S

Albury Regional Gallery, Albury Artbank Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide Art Gallery Society of New South Wales, Sydney ARTS ACT, Canberra Australian War Memorial, Canberra Canberra Civic Collection, Canberra Danish Royal Art Collection, Copenhagen, Denmark Fidelity Worldwide Investment, Hong Kong and Sydney HBO Collection, New York, USA Lane Cove Municipal Council, Sydney Newcastle Art Gallery, Newcastle National Gallery of Australia, Canberra Patrick Corrigan Collection, Sydney Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane St Ignatius College Collection, Sydney University of Queensland Art Museum, Brisbane

/ P N O � K L Ä U [ P [ P V U � P T H N L Z � H Y L � H ] H P S H I S L � V U � K L T H U K �F o r e a c h i m a g e u s e d , p l e a s e m e n t i o n t h e c o p y r i g h t b e l o w :© n a m e o f t h e a r t i s t / c o u r t e s y G a l e r i e P a r i s - B e i j i n g

C O N T A C T S :par is@ga ler iepar isbe i j ing.com I +33 (0 )1 42 74 32 36

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U P C O M I N G E V E N T S

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C O N T E M P O R A R Y I N T E R N A T I O N A L 2 0 1 51 2 t h - 1 5 t h N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 5R E R O , C h u l - H y u n A h n , N a n d a n G h i y a , L i u B o l i n