2016

Psychic Staircase (2016) is a sculptural work originating from on an ongoing series of balloon inspired sculptures featured in Oooh and Experiments in Natural Philosophy. These feature balloons that droop and slump as the force of gravity appears to bear down upon them. The series explore sculptural presence, materiality and conditions of audience reception.

In conceiving this particular work, I am interested the physical sensation of vulnerability that one experiences through the feeling of vertigo, as well as the psychology surrounding particular architectural features such as stairs and landings. The work is cast directly from a latex balloon and finished with automotive lacquer. The balloon is balanced precariously on top of a model staircase. Notably the stairs are not realistically proportioned but rather distorted, with very narrow treads, emphasising the sense of isolation.

Courtesy of Galerie pompom

About the Artist

Born in 1971, Todd Robinson lives and works Sydney. He has exhibited his work within a range of institutional, contemporary and artist run contexts, including AGNSW, Ian Potter Museum of Art, Melbourne and held solo exhibitions Experiments in Suspense Sculpture, Chasm Gallery USA, Natural Philosophy, Oooh, Sydney Contemporary Art Fair with Galerie Pompom (2013), Sightlessness, Artspace, Sydney curated by Sally Breen (2006), Karakish, Grantpirrie Gallery, curated by Tony Stephens (2009), Reservoir, Gitte Weise Gallery (2004) and MOP Projects, Sydney (2007, 2009).

He has received numerous grants and residencies including Australian Council of the Arts, New Work Grants (2016, 2014, 2004) NSW Ministry of the Arts, Gunnery Studio Residency (2007), Nava Grants (2008) and Frasers Queen Street Residency (2011). His work has been collected by the National Gallery of Victoria, Artbank and Ipswich Art Gallery, Queensland. He recently fulfilled sculptural commissions for Artbank, Ipswich Art Gallery and Aileen Sage Architects. He was a finalist in the NSW Travelling Arts Fellowship Prize, Artspace (2013), Redlands Konica Minolta Art Prize (2013), National Art School and The Deakin University Sculpture Prize (2012).

He combines his art practice with academic and research work as a doctoral candidate and Lecturer in Fashion, School of Design, University of Technology, Sydney.

Todd Robinson's website