Exhibition to embrace creative chaos

Modern art and music will converge during an exhibition by Melbourne artist, Masato Takasaka, at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) from Wednesday 10 October to Monday 5 November 2007.

I Like My Old Stuff Better Than Your New Stuff will be accompanied by an interactive sound installation by USQ composition students under the tutelage of Dr Judith Crispin and Michael Monaghan.

USQ Gallery Curator, Simon Mee, said Masato is a gifted, experimental artist who combines his various creative talents.

'Mastao is a contemporary artist whose work combines spatial awareness, design, installation and painterly abstraction.

'He believes in a hybrid practise combined with a desire to breach the conventional lines between music, art and the spaces that they inhabit.'

Born in Japan in 1977, Masato has exhibited widely in Melbourne and Sydney and currently teaches Architecture and Design at RMIT University in Victoria.

'He has been involved in residencies at Gertrude Space 2002 as well as experimental projects such as 'Its all lead guitar when prog (progressive) rock ruled the earth' at The Narrows in Melbourne this year,' said Simon.

'I hope to see Masato embrace a high level of creative chaos, sourcing his material from op shops to Crazy Clarks.

'He will also be performing a guitar solo at the opening and he was happy for the Creative Arts composition students to include an experimental piece in the space.'

In Masato's own words, the installation will comprise of studio detritus past sculptural and paintings to create a five dimensional mini city based on neoclassical prog rock music ... kind of like van Doesburg and Kandinsky on acid.

Simon said Mastao's exhibition offers local audiences an opportunity to immerse themselves in cutting-edge modern art.

Dates: 10 October – 5 November 2007
Times: 9.00am – 5.00pm, Monday – Friday
Venue: USQ Arts Gallery
Official Opening: Friday 12 October at 5.00 for 5.30pm
Free Artist Talk: Thursday 11 October 2007, 12 noon

Media Contact: Amy Cass, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 2092