ANNA PRIFTI
Gallery Director, West End Art Space, Melbourne
I do like the simplicity of the artist’s choice of materials and colour, and how despite the work’s bleakness and alienation of the character, it grabs my attention to further investigate it. In an over-digitized era that we live in, Roger poses us the question, ‘how connected and happy are we?’.
EDWARD WOODLEY
Director, China Heights Gallery, Sydney
Mina Alice Calvert’s ‘Roger’ traverses the boundary between painting and drawing, with sketched charcoal on canvas, and a background skilfully blocked out in acrylic. This reductive technique highlights the negative space, drawing focus on the subject’s willful gaze – staring into the oncoming enigma. Reminiscent of the 1980’s New York city no wave movement, ‘Roger’ sits sardonically in a contemporary sphere, humorously questioning our daily existence and purpose.
BENJAMIN CLAY
Curator, Olsen Gallery, Sydney
Calvert’s allegorical portrait is totally charming. The depiction could easily be one of you or of me, made at an unthinking moment while we consume the endless news cycle or scroll through social media. Roger stares off to the distance, completely unaware of his audience. The artist has masterfully captured the subject’s makeshift complexion, rendering soft cardboard or playdough in charcoal and graphite.