Oo (yes):
selected paintings & projects by Maria Cruz, 1996-2009
27 October - 27 November 2009
Opened by Dr Anna Gibbs,
Associate Professor, UWS
Maria Cruz
Curated by Jo Holder
Working in Berlin, Sydney and Manila, Maria Cruz is an advocate of a more speculative and socially aware role for art. Oo (yes) was a major survey of her practice presented in Australia and demonstrates how her 'work continues to captivate by levitating oppositions and metaphysical conundrums'. In addition to a selection of paintings produced over the last decade or so, the exhibition included Poetry a new video piece created in the Philippines, and Coca Cola installations - translations of the small 'sari-sari' street stores in Manila.
As Jo Holder comments: "recent works observe a point in urban life when the experience of the local and public is fading, due in part to mass consumption allied to the pervasive 'tweeting' style of intimacy. These layers make Maria Cruz's work unusually potent: her touch is at once blithe and existential, autobiographic and symbolic. In this landscape of thought there are no categorical announcements."
Gallery floortalk held on Wednesday 28 October 4-5pm
Maria Cruz, Jo Holder and Dr Anne Cranny-Francis, Professor of Cultural Studies, UTS held a lively discussion exploring ideas surrounding the exhibition and the notion of translations across contemporary cultural production.
About Maria Cruz
Born in Manila, Philippines, Maria Cruz studied Fine Arts at the University of Santo Tomas, before transferring toSydney College of the Arts. She undertook post-graduate study at Kunstakademie in Dusseldorf and Sydney College of the Arts, University of Sydney.
She became a national figure in 1997 when she won the Portia Geach Portrait prize with a self-portrait 'Maria'. She extended her creative energies to teaching and has lectured in various Australian universities. Currently based in Berlin, Maria Cruz has shown all over the globe but keeps close ties with her representatives Kaliman Gallery in Sydney and Galleria Duemila, Manila.
Oo: Selected paintings and projects by Maria Cruz, 1996-2008 was shown at Ateneo Art Gallery, Manila in 2008.
This project has been assisted by UTS: Centre for Media Arts Innovation.
Images: Maria Cruz, Your daydreams reveal your ethnic background, 2007, oil on linen.
Poetry, 2009, DVD still
Voodoo (detail) 2007, oil on linen. All images courtesy the artist and Kaliman Gallery, Sydney. Private Collection
Detail of Sari-sari store Manila, Photo: Maria Cruz
Supported by Oyster Bay Wines, Coopers Brewery 
and Media Partner 2ser 
