IN Perfect Worlds Dolls Make Decisions Too.
Meeja Gallery of Melbourne presents an exhibition of contemporary works by artist Jessica Robertson, marking her first solo show in Australia. The exhibition named "IN Perfect Worlds Dolls Make Decisions Too" runs from February 26th to March 5th 2009.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, January 20, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- In a perfect world art not only mirrors life, it magnifies it. It pushes and comments, stopping you still for a moment to consider ideas and emotions which remain mostly hidden in everyday lives.

Melbourne photographer Jessica Robertson makes no apologies for the dramatic and sometimes bloody nature of her art. Her shots, miniature lifescapes of dolls in darker realities, are fully realised scenes in diorama boxes using controlled light and hand made props. Once taken, these photos are set on a large scale canvas where the saturated colour and highly detailed effect of her backdrops produce a still that is indeed difficult to ignore. Her doll characters can be cruel and callous, but they like to remain in control.

When asked about the nature of working with dioramas and a cast of lifelike dolls, Jessica's response very much reflects her training in media and film industry experience. "I sit as the viewer and absorb the scene. I think about each character's motivation and eventually a story begins to take shape. It's then that I involve the camera and choose my shots carefully to best describe the moment."

It is this unusual combination of storytelling and that uneasy comedy of seeing her characters in macabre scenarios which is also winning fans to Jessica Robertson's work. Melbourne critic Gavin Miller vocalises a lot about what is exciting in her work.

"You can see a lot of good art out there, but it's rare to see great art which tells a dark story true to life and engages all of your senses, her art is great art that allows you to fall into a trance each time you look at it."

This being true, other savvy collectors see her various photo collections as opportunities to populate their many walls with larger scale art that truly captures and holds attention. Local art collector Bill Gianoulas makes the connection clearer. "The sheer size of this art is what gives the full impact, the viewer is confronted by the realities in the photos. We have all at one stage or another had those same feelings in life or relationships that the dolls are somehow showing us, of how real this is even in our so called perfect world. I thank her for giving me the opportunity to collect such work."

It seems that people are indeed getting tired of the standard triptych with joining lines and reversible panels.

Jessica Robertson's dolls do tease us with their erotic and perverse public performances, but they also invite us to laugh and consider our own perspectives on the combination of domesticity and certain taboos. Taking a glimpse of her portfolio at http://www.jrfilms.com.au/ gives an appreciation of the subject matter, but the real effect is to be felt in full, large scale pieces that are as striking as they are disturbing.

The artist's words explain her motivations and assure our own for wanting to watch. "I'm a voyeur at heart. I think we all are. I'm driven to create images that reflect a more truthful reality, one that connects us with the darker side of our nature. Of course I also like to inject a little drama for effect and humour to remind us to laugh at ourselves. The bad behaviour of my characters doesn't necessarily make them 'bad'. I invite the viewer to contemplate the scene, to deconstruct the story and identify with the actions. By presenting my images large scale, I want to give people the opportunity to not look away when they see my work, to get up close and really see that world I've created. It's our world too if you look hard enough."

Press Release Contact Information:

Jessica Robertson
Jessica Robertson
Artist
Meeja Gallery 25 Bray Street
Melbourne, Victoria
Australia V6H1R1
Voice: 04071753390
Fax: jess@jrfilms.com.au
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