01 Dec From MARS With Love
To all the MARS artists, family, friends, collectors and the wider community, we wish you a Happy Christmas and a peaceful break.
Tis the season to be jolly, but of course with events around the globe as they are, this can indeed be difficult. But MARS, when we pause and reflect on our own little world, has had a year worth celebrating.
MARS in Australia sits locally, but has indeed been acting internationally – this year was the year of travelling and seeing more of our artists show globally. In May we made a debut at the London Photo Fair and in June we took on the Design Fair. Then in September, there was the Sydney Contemporary Art Fair followed by Spring at the Windsor Hotel.
Among the year’s numerous highlights, including our artists Atong Atem, Jenna Lee, Meagan Streader, Scotty So, Diego Ramierez and Kenny Pittock exhibiting at the NGV’s Melbourne Now. Another highlight would be Atong Atem at the Tate Modern, Photo London 2023, and headlining the Ireland Photo Festival. Then of course we had Scotty So making a resounding splash in Hong Kong and Dani McKenzie showing and selling out in Los Angeles when it seemed like only yesterday, she was graduating from the National Art School.
And we’re finishing the year with the Australian premiere of Atong Atem’s new series Dust, open at Mars from the 14th to 20th of December, and then viewable through the gallery window until the 1st of February.
Now we’re delighted to unveil our online Christmas catalogue which presents artists seen at MARS throughout 2023, and hint of what is to come in a brand New Year.
These new works our artists have made to send to you. If you love one enough, the works will be gift-wrapped and delivered to wherever you want directly from the gallery. Just call us to secure your chosen art gift. These works are special as they have come from studios of Australian artists all around the world to be in this catalogue, from studios in far remote parts of Australia to busy studios in London, to studios in the back of Northcote, and all are echoing a message of love and world peace – the theme of our catalogue.
We are living in such turbulent global times and I have personally spent a lot of time reflecting on whether I should say something publicly or not about current worldwide events – is an intro to an art sales catalogue the right time to speak so personally? But what to say, and how to say it? And the repercussions of taking any such actions? Saying nothing fails to acknowledge our collective heartbreak, worry, disbelief, stress, confusion and uncertainty. My own family and my respected and diverse MARS family have found the last months to be greatly disturbing – no matter what their various perspectives.
MARS closes on 20th December and will resume regular activities on 1st February 2024 with renewed perspectives and heightened empathy. We will strive to give the best exhibitions to help the world we can in our small way – through art, tucked away in a tiny street in Windsor just maybe we can help in a tiny way. The voices of our artists need and deserve to be seen and heard.
Until then, we thank you for your understanding and support.
With nothing but love,
Andy Dinan
