By Derek Schlennstedt
Tecoma artist Nicole Breedon will exhibit her most recent work at the Testing Grounds art space, in Southbank.
From 5 November, Melbourne will be home to the nightly apparition of a Monotone Rainbow created by Nicole.
While open to a multitude of interpretations, the large-scale rainbow installation, stripped off colour, most poignantly echoes contemporary fears for the fate of equality and climate change.
Each evening at dusk, the ghostly black and white holographic rainbow will appear like an ethereal apparition.
Similar to a 3d projection, recycled water and rear projection technology will form the illusion of a rainbow – stripped off the full colour saturation.
Nicole, who shares a large studio in Belgrave with local artists Sean Peoples (The Telepathy Project) and Kiera Brew Kurec, said the rainbow reflected the saddening societal values of today when confronting political debates relating to climate change and same sex marriage.
“The work reflects on the paradox within the state of affairs in the world today – a rainbow stripped off its colour is a symbolic reference of the beauty and sadness that co-exist in the current state of our world,” she said.
The act of presenting this universal symbol of love, hope and equality stripped off its iconic colours is bursting with references and interpretations.
Though, this ambitious project inevitably strikes a chord with the current marriage equality debate, and artist Nicole relays a sombre message about the current state of events.
“Basically, everything’s really … grim”.
Monotone Rainbow is supported by the City Of Melbourne Arts Grants Program, and launches with a public opening at Testing Grounds on 3 November at 6pm.
It will be open to the public Wednesday to Saturday evening until 2 December.
