Out of the Blue Room By Charmaine Hardy
Artist: Charmaine Hardy
Category: Photography
Melbourne-based photographic artist, Charmaine Hardy, uses her work to respond to issues pertinent in the media, popular culture, and in the way we experience the world. Ironic, facetious, and sometimes confronting, these images can be appreciated both for their surface of playful exuberance, and for the sagacious social critique.
In 2008, Going Green, was the artists first solo exhibition at Arc one Gallery. Since her debut exhibition in 1999 (Domestic Gods by Hardy & Strong), Hardy has gained an extensive exhibition history both in Victoria and interstate. She has participated in numerous group shows most recently, “Light sensitive, Contemporary Australian Photography from the Loti Smorgan fund (Hardy & Strong) at the National Gallery of Victoria (2006-2007) and the Monash Gallery of Art (Charmaine Hardy) and Tarrawarra Museum of art (Charmaine Hardy, 2004)
In her earlier works, from Naturestrip (2004), Hardy explored the toll exacted by the every-growing amount of waste and debris generated by humans. In the exhibition ‘Going Green’, Hardy continued her ongoing interest with social and environmental issues. From the environmentally conscience to those that ignore the effects of climate change in suburbia and our rural environment, Going Green, investigated the effects of climate change and how we alter our way of life to adapt to these restrictions and reduce our ‘carbon footprint’.
During 2008, Government campaigns focused their attention heavily on the every day consumer to reduce their water usage and carbon emissions but seemed to neglect the heavy usage of industry. While it was evident that people became more environmentally aware through the ‘green ideology’ advertising campaigns such as ‘You have the power. Save Energy’ or ‘Our water our future’ and ‘Every drop counts’ was it merely a feel good campaign and are we currently doing enough to slow down the effects of global warming.
In 2010, Charmaine Hardy completed her Graduate diploma in art therapy. She is currently completing a Masters in Art therapy at La Trobe University, Bundoora. Charmaine also works as a freelance graphic designer.
Web: http://www.charmainehardy.com
