CV — Rae Begley

ARTIST CV

RAE BEGLEY

b. 1977, Melbourne, Australia
Lives and works in Coledale, NSW

EDUCATION

2011
Australian Centre of Photography, Sydney NSW
Fine Art Black & White (Short Course)

1996 – 1999
Deakin University, Melbourne VIC
Bachelor of Media Arts (Photography Major)

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

November 2017
AND THEN NOTHING TURNED ITSELF INSIDE OUT
COMMUNE, 901 Bourke Street, Waterloo, NSW Australia

AND THEN NOTHING TURNED ITSELF INSIDE OUT is a series of exquisitely detailed landscape photographs, video and installation works, and an ambient soundscape made in collaboration with Erik Omen. The body of work was captured in October 2016 at Ngozumpa Glacier and Gokyo Lake in the Khumbu region of Nepal and is the first instalment in a study of glaciers and an exploration of their decline in sacred mountain landscapes.

Set below the sixth highest mountain in the world Cho Oyu, the Ngozumpa Glacier is the longest glacier in the Himalayas. Glacial melt was once slow, the movement of the ice measured in many years, often centuries. In recent decades, the Nepali Himalayas are warming significantly and the Ngozumpa Glacier is showing signs of shrinking, thinning and the ice is rapidly melting; it’s as if time is literally flowing away.

In the Himalayas, it is believed by the local people that gods reside on mountaintops to distance themselves from the filth of human life. Sherpas have been known to link the decline of mountain glaciers to gods or deities. Human interference in the motherland of Nepal is unleashing the fury of the mountain gods. The glacial melt of Ngozumpa (‘water source’) may be interpreted by the Sherpa people as a moral reprimand by the gods due to the departure from their traditional lifestyle to new lifestyles that generate physical and spiritual pollution.

The works hold space as majestic reminders that the earth is a living planet of complex beauty under threat. The fragility of the soaring landscape has been preserved as it was photographed and is now historical documentation in the timeline of climate change.

December 2014
ANNAPURNA
Mild Manners Gallery, Lvl 1, 499 Crown St, Surry Hills NSW Australia

ANNAPURNA is a series of photographs from the Annapurna region, a massif of the Himalaya's in Nepal. The work is a reflection on the contrasting elements seen in the extremes of nature. Majestic and spiritual, the sacred valleys and ranges are captured around an altitude of 4000m in the heartland of the Annapurna ranges and they depict a rapidly evolving landscape. The scale and power of the land is of epic proportions, initially offering a breathtaking 'otherworldly' beauty to the explorer however this is coupled with an underlying darkness which in moments feels apocalyptic.

GROUP EXHIBITIONS, AWARDS & PRIZES

15 September - 9 October 2016
Australian Life, Art & About Sydney
St James Walkway, Hyde Park, Sydney NSW Australia
Finalist in the Australian Life Photography Prize with work ‘Boy on Bike’ shown in large-scale group exhibition. With a unique focus on who we are as a nation, the 22 finalists for Australian Life look beyond the iconic images of our country to reveal new insights into our identity. From a close-up moment of reflection, to a wide-angle on our collective hopes and dreams, these stunning large format prints are as diverse, interesting and surprising as Australia itself. Finalists exhibited: Marian Abboud, John Appleyard, Kris Baum, Rae Begley, Deb Bonney, Aaron Bradbrook, Simone Cheung, Cameron Cope, Anna Maria Antoinette D’Addario, Ian English, Amy Jean Harding, Taweechai Iam-urairat, Kent Johnson, Jon Lewis, Georgie Mattingley, Nikki McLennan, Darren Saul, Steven Sherwin, Frank Trimarchi, Ess Vaun, Rebecca Webb and Kerry Wilson. Judges: Louise Whelan, Liane Rossler and Daniel Mudie Cunningham.

CURATORIAL PROJECTS

30 August – 2 September 2012
IN SYNTHESIS - Female Artist Collectives and Collaborators
Paramount Pictures Building, 78-80 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills NSW Australia
Group exhibition with artists including The Kingpins, Kate Mitchell, Chicks on Speed, Agatha Gothe-Snape, Bianca Chang & UTS Students, Even Books, Kevina-Jo Smith, Nell & Bec Machine and The Parachutes for Ladies. Concept by Rae Begley for adidas Originals. Curated with Joseph Allen Shea

IN SYNTHESIS is a group exhibition celebrating the vitality of female artists working as collectives and collaborators. Like the partnerships that spawned the work, the exhibition acts as if an alloy; the unification of ideas and persons being stronger than the sum of each part.The art works chosen illuminate an ambitious and diverse group of contemporary artists working in process driven disciplines from installation, performance, sound, sculpture and video. These works combine to create an exhibition focused on movement and energy encapsulating the vital spirit of a fresh and dynamic art connection branching varying points in artistic careers. Using multiple levels and passages, the building is considered as a collaborator guiding and moving the audience to engage with works that inhabit the space and emphasising action and vigorous spirit. With unified action and a space for exploration IN SYNTHESIS celebrate women in art and the communities they create.

May 2012
Jenny Kee ‘The Art of the Scarf’
Debut Presentation at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia
Carriageworks, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh NSW 2016 Australia
Concept and Direction by Jenny Kee and Rae Begley
Jenny Kee's first major solo presentation 'The Art of the Scarf' since her infamous 'Flamingo Follies' show alongside Linda Jackson in 1981. Showcasing ten archival Jenny Kee looks styled by Romance Was Born spanning from 1980-2012, the 'Art of the Scarf' presentation featured seminal works with a focus on print, from iconic re-issues of old works including the Black Opal print used in Karl Lagerfeld's first collection for Chanel in his 1983 show to new works previously unseen. For the past 40 years, Jenny Kee has remained a remarkable beacon within the Australian fashion industry. With a passionately joyous and distinctly Australian approach to her craft, Kee has always worked within the fashion world from an artistic mindset. Drawing on her love of Australian fauna and flora, particularly the Waratah, which she deems her totem, Kee’s art is a mix of vivaciously hand-painted chaotic collages – flowers, animals, exotic birds, opals and tropical fish. Kee was the first designer to place iconic Australiana references into prints for fashion in 1980.

COLLECTIONS

Private Collections, Sydney, NSW

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Jessica Matthews, Harper’s BAZAAR, November 2017
Print issue, BAZAAR Culture Diary - Rae Begley’s And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out exhibition

Jamie Preisz, Monster Children, November 2017
Feature on And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out - ‘Rae Begley Beautiful Face of Sad Reality’
http://www.monsterchildren.com/66582/rae-begley-beautiful-face-sad-reality/

Sammy Preston, Broadsheet Sydney, November 2017
Art and Design - The World Through Their Eyes
And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out featured as photography show to see in November
https://www.broadsheet.com.au/sydney/art-and-design/article/the-world-through-their-eyes-three-photography-exhibitions-november

Chloe Mandryk, Art Almanac, October 2017
Featured Exhibition - And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out
http://www.art-almanac.com.au/rae-begley-and-then-nothing-turned-itself-inside-out/

Dee Jefferson, Time Out Sydney, October 2017
Art - Event Listing - And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out
https://www.timeout.com/sydney/art/and-then-nothing-turned-itself-inside-out

Lauren Vadnjal, Concrete Playground, October 2017
Sydney Event - And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out and newsletter inclusion for What’s On
https://concreteplayground.com/sydney/event/rae-begley-nothing-turned-inside/

Jack Shit, FBi Radio - Diary of Death by Jack Shit, 28 October 2017
Featured Event - And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out
https://fbiradio.com/diary-of-death-28-october/

Pris, IdN World Magazine, 28 October 2017
Featured Event - And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out
http://www.idnworld.com/events/RaeBegley-NothingTurnedItself

Gina Fairley, Arts Hub, 28 October 2017
What’s On - And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out inclusion
http://visual.artshub.com.au/whats-on/new-south-wales/exhibitions-visual/rae-begley-and-then-nothing-turned-itself-inside-out-222017

Shari Knott, The Old Clare Hotel, 28 October 2017
What’s On - Featured Event - And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out
http://www.theoldclarehotel.com.au/whats-on/

Well Made Clothes, November 2017
News - Featured on And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out
https://wellmadeclothes.com.au/articles/cat/news/post/IncredibleGlacierPhotosByLocalArtist/

2ser Radio, November 2017
Event Guide - And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out featured
http://2ser.com/event-guide-saturday-4th-november/

Briony Wright, i-D, October 2017
‘Photographs of Nepalese glaciers, melting away’
Arts - Feature interview with Rae Begley for And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out
https://i-d.vice.com/en_au/article/3kvbbj/photographs-of-nepalese-glaciers-melting-away

Nicholas Carolan, Grazia Australia, October 2017
‘Photography that moves mountains’
Culture - Online feature and gallery for Rae Begley, And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out
https://grazia.com.au/articles/and-then-nothing-turned-itself-inside-out/

Hayley Morgan, Oyster, October 2017
‘Rae Begley on photographing and protecting sublime glaciers ahead of major exhibition’
Arts - Feature interview and gallery
http://www.oystermag.com/2017/10/rae-begley-on-photographing-and-protecting-sublime-glaciers-ahead-of-major-exhibition/

Rebecca Khoury, 10 Magazine, October 2017
10 Talks: Rae Begley and Erik Omen
Feature interview and gallery about the soundscape for the exhibition And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out
http://www.10magazine.com.au/blog/ten-talks-rae-begley-erik-omen-new-collaboration/

Francesca Wallace, Vogue Australia/Vogue Living, October 2017
‘First Look: an exhibition exploring glaciers as an art form’
Arts Feature and Gallery - And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out
http://www.vogue.com.au/vogue+living/arts/galleries/first+look+an+exhibition+exploring+glaciers+as+an+art+form,43482

Victoria Pearson, Russh Australia, October 2017
‘Rae Begley: And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out’ feature and gallery
http://www.russh.com/rae-begley-and-then-nothing-turned-itself-inside-out/

Dee Jefferson, Time Out Sydney, September 2016, Australian Life image inclusion
https://www.timeout.com/sydney/art/australian-life

Arts Review, Australian Life returns to Sydney, 13 September 2016,
Australian Life feature mentioned as finalist
http://artsreview.com.au/australian-life-returns-to-sydney/

City of Sydney, September 2016, Australian Life Event Listing includes mention
https://whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/events/art-about-sydney-australian-life

Marc Gafen, Capture Magazine, Finalists for Australian Life Competition announced, September 2016, Australian Life feature mentioned as finalist and image included
http://www.capturemag.com.au/latest/finalists-for-australian-life-competition-announced

Men’s Style Australia, Australian Life: A Photography Competition, September 2016, Australian Life feature gallery and mention
http://www.mensstyle.com.au/lifestyle/australian-life-a-photography-competition/

Emily Royal, Oyster Magazine, December 2014, Annapurna feature and gallery
http://www.oystermag.com/travel-diary-rae-begley-in-nepal

Georgia Booth, Broadsheet Sydney, December 2014, Annapurnafeature and gallery
https://www.broadsheet.com.au/sydney/event/annapurna-rae-begley-mild-manners-gallery-2014-12-16

Marnie Dibden Cate, Pages Digital, December 2014, Annapurnafeature and gallery
http://www.pagesdigital.com/lifestyle/annapurna-exhibition/

Matt Rabbidge, Monster Children, December 2014, Annapurnafeature and gallery
http://www.monsterchildren.com/27032/exhibit-rae-begley-annapurna/

The Opening Hours, December 2014, Annapurna feature and gallery http://theopeninghours.com.au/2014/12/15/opening-rae-begleys-debut-photo-exhibition-annapurna/

Australian In Front, December 2014, Annapurna feature and gallery http://www.australianinfront.com.au/news/article/rae-begley-annapurna-exhibition

TEXTS

2016- current
Account Director
Articulate PR, Sydney
Clients include Carriageworks, Sydney Contemporary, The Other Art Fair, Bridging Hope Charity Foundation and Art Month Sydney.

2007- current
Communications Director
Little Hero PR, Sydney
Clients have included Romance Was Born, Jenny Kee, P.A.M, DISCOUNT UNIVERSE, Yevu, adidas Originals and Levi’s. Current Client Liaison, Make Nice, The Big Design Market, CooeeArt Gallery and We’re All Going To Die Festival

Experience in the arts extends to projects involving the National Gallery of Victoria, Carriageworks, Art Gallery of NSW, Powerhouse Museum (MAAS), Sydney Theatre Company and Roslyn Oxley 9 Gallery.