DISRUPTIVE ELEMENTS  

FACTORY 49 SHOWROOM

49 Shepherd Street Marrickville SYDNEY

25 AUG - 5 SEPT 2010

The exhibition, Disruptive Elements, explores the dynamic interconnection between the striated surface space and the smooth surface space. When the smooth space is disturbed interrupted and ruptured by the intervention of cutting, peeling and repositioning a process of change brings into being a striated space. The striated space becomes new territory, emerging and developing a dialogue with the smooth. The smooth and striated space is found on the surface of corrugated cardboard which consists of several large black rectangular and square works. These works are assembled together, some overlapping, like a cluster, strategically placed, and resting against the gallery wall. Several parts make up one complete work. They are connected although they can be separated or rearranged into other configurations and are capable of producing any number of effects. In the gallery space another form of disruptive elements emerges resulting from the way the works are placed, causing a disruption for the viewer whilst in the gallery space itself. Marlene Sarroff’s work is concerned with materials and process. She uses ordinary industrial materials and then implements a process to manipulate them enough so as new work evolves, whilst at the same time, being true to the material. Previously, she has used soft, light materials such as bubble wrap and used a process of winding around. In Disruptive Elements mostly the material is hard and the process of cutting and peeling presents a bolder aesthetic. However, one work in the exhibition does continue the process of winding. White elastic is wound and stretched around a frame, completely covering it, and creating a contrast to the hard surfaced cardboard works. So the hard and soft creates a contrast of surfaces and continues a process used previously by the artist.