Mum’s the Word is the latest exhibition by Melbourne-based artist Catherine Bell at Sutton Project Space in Fitzroy.

As soon as I walked into Sutton Project Space, I felt that I was back in New York City.

You could feel the streets of NYC, the air, the energy, and the hustle and bustle.

At first, the large pinned black and white photographs by Catherine Bell look to be mums with their children crossing the busy streets. On closer inspection you realise that these women do not belong to these babies and children. They are the hired help; they are the African American nannies that often go unmentioned and unrecognised.

“Bell builds on her longstanding interest in motherhood, surrogacy and deviant maternity, and also presents new ideas relating to the per formative nature of public space.”

It’s the first time in a long time that I’ve walked into a show at Sutton Project Space and felt the exhibition was complete, resolved and conceptually clear. The photographs are not technically outstanding; they don’t need to be as Bell has produced a very tight and balanced show.

Sutton Project Space
230 Young Street, Fitzroy (view location on Google Maps)
Friday and Saturdays only, 1pm to 5pm
Until 17 December

walk to art has just taken a group to La Biennale di Venezia – 54th International Art Exhibition – the first walk to art Venice.

Before I left for Italy I had a few people informing me that this year’s Biennale was not very good, others saying that it was fabulous.

Well, I must say it was amazing. It was great on so many levels and not just for the art.

For 5 months every second year, Venice is transformed. For the art lover it is an abundance of opulent space and art in museums, disused buildings and of course the main arena’s the Giardini and Arsenale.

During our time there every afternoon was dedicated to art and prosecco at 5pm… perfect. The mornings were for the early walks before the crowds and cruise ships started rolling in.

I’ve been back under a week and, after seeing a lot of art, I am still thinking about a few of the outstanding pieces:

• The most outstanding artist was Anish Kapoor, who is based in London.
• The most outstanding pavilion was the French one hosting Christian Boltanski.

Ascension by Anish Kapoor is located in the magnificent Basilica di San Giorgio Maggiore.

“Ascension is a site-specific installation that materializes the paradox of the column of smoke: a vortex of white smoke rises from a circular base.”

The feeling was one of enlighten, spirituality and peace. At first it appears to be lifeless, but with further attention a “tornado” swirl of smoke slowly rises to the top and disappears into the suction of the exhaust fan.

The space, the religious aspect, the technical difficulties, the concept is all outstanding. This is an installation that captured the audience emotionally, conceptually and technically.

Unfortunately for me the Australian pavilion was disappointing. However, next-door was a perfectly sharpened exhibition by Christian Boltanski representing France.

Christian Boltanski, a leading figure in the international art scene, featured a spectacular installation entitled “Chance.”

“Chance” marks an important stage in the evolution of Christian Boltanski’s work. Unlike the rest of his art, which is dominated by disappearance and death, here he opens himself up to a broader examination of fate. The unfolding of life and the rhythm of births and deaths raise the question of the universal and the individual in a new form, of what distinguishes one being from another.

Far from being grim, the ambience here is welcoming. Even though the brutality of an industrial and mechanical system serves thwarts the building’s neoclassical harmony, here filtered light illumines the faces of newborns.

The sheer mechanical sound, install and the interaction aspect was outstanding and engaging. It was great to watch children get involved and excited.

Art is to speak to all and especially at the Biennale, where there are so many people from all walks of life. Both Kapoor’s and Boltanski’s works were successful because they achieved and produced work that was of an outstanding level.