N.B.: Fremantle Arts Centre is a not for profit organisation. The Bon Scott Project is certainly not trying to make money off Bon's memory; instead, we are paying tribute to the man and his memory with our multifacted exhibition.
THE BON SCOTT PROJECT
17 MAY - 29 JUNE
FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE
Glen by the Pool by Rebecca Dagnall
Featuring:
Stuart Bailey (NSW)
Guy Benfield (USA)
Adam Cullen (NSW)
Rebecca Dagnall (WA)
Cecilia Fogelberg (VIC)
Alex Gawronski (NSW)
Ian Haig (VIC/USA)
Bevan Honey (WA)
Matthew Hunt (WA)
Lucas Ihlein (NSW)
Richard Lewer (VIC)
Michael Moran (NSW)
Ryan Nazzari (WA)
Vanila Netto (NSW)
Nat Paton (QLD)
Scott Redford (QLD)
Eli Smith (WA)
Martin Smith (QLD)
Tanja Visosevic (WA)
Inspired by Australia’s most iconic rock and roller, The Bon Scott Project is a multi-faceted program celebrating and critiquing the life and times of BON SCOTT, lead singer and co-lyricist of AC/DC (1974-1980). The exhibition is presented by Fremantle Arts Centre, in the city where Bon grew up and where his grave, now listed by the National Trust, is the most visited in Australia.
Nineteen Australian and internationally-based artists have created works inspired by the intense ‘taking life by the balls’ spirit of Bon and his music. The works are often irreverent, unconventional and exciting, and explore notions of masculinity, remembrance and rebellion. Curator Jasmin Stephens selected artists who were interested in Bon, but not necessarily fans. “Scott’s fans have shared codes and vocabularies. We wanted artists who are not necessarily fans to break open some of these conventions with a range of responses.â€
An exciting highlight is the first curated exhibition of the singer’s letters, compiled by Katie Dyer and consisting of over 20 documents. “Bon was a prolific letter writer, keeping in touch with the many women he’d met on his travels, often trying out in the letters the lyrics composed and rehearsed while on the road,†says Dyer.
Equally central to the Project is the Bon Scott Blog www.bonscottblog.com. Created by Sydney based artist, and now die hard Bon buff, Lucas Ihlein is documenting his rite of passage and experiences as he criss-crosses the continent in search of Scott exclusives.
In a more external display of obsession, Ihlein and a global network of Bon fans have co-opted the LED Welcome to Fremantle sign, and Bon’s lyrics and messages from fans will greet travellers as they cross Fremantle’s Stirling Highway Bridge, the link that connects Fremantle and North Fremantle where Bon’s Mum, Isa, still lives. Under the bridge, artist Bevan Honey is creating an elusive apparition of Bon.
A group show of seventeen artists across Fremantle Arts Centre’s five galleries will present works that deal with this unique subject matter. Notable inclusions are Stuart Bailey (NSW), who has created a bootleg merchandise stand designed to cash in on the profile of the newly bronzed Bon Scott memorial statue, Rebecca Dagnall (WA), who has photographed Bon fans alongside their shrines and collections, Ian Haig (USA), whose animation recreates his eleven year old excitement in seeing AC/DC perform at his local shopping centre, and Richard Lewer (VIC), whose charcoal wall drawing of AC/DC members mingling with Church figures refers back to memories of his strict Catholic upbringing.
A fashion forum, The Ugly/ Sexy Factor: Bon and Fashion will discuss very tight jeans and other elements of Bon Scott’s cultural resonance as well as the key question – given that Bon was not conventionally handsome, how did he exude such sex appeal?
The forum will be launched in true rock ‘n’ roll style with the commissioning of FAC’s tribute band, FAC/DC. Featuring Dom Mariani (The Stems), Steve Joines (The Kill Devil Hills), Vanessa Thornton (Jebediah), Clair French (Sure-Fire Midnights) and Warren Hall (The M-16s), Facca Dacca’s rollicking set will be the crowning glory of a night dedicated to Bon’s memory.
