Richard Giblett / Hong Kong

Hong Kong born 1966, emigrated to Australia 1973

In the vast triptych Sump system, 2015–16, Richard Giblett depicts a complex network of tower blocks, chimneys, funnels and pipes, which is mirrored in a deep black sump that resembles a massive pool of black oil. This industrial landscape draws attention to the consumption of resources in today’s cities, and recognisable icons of corporations and international brands, including IBM, Hilton, IKEA and McDonald’s, can be identified within this labyrinthine structure. Giblett imagines a dystopian world of mass production – the ‘sump system’ that underpins our consumer habits, and yet remains largely invisible.

BIO

Richard Giblett has held solo exhibitions at Australian institutions, including Gertrude Contemporary, Melbourne, in 2004, and the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art in 2006. His work has been exhibited at the Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth, 2005; the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne, 2006 and 2009; and Heide Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne, 2011, among others. Giblett’s work is represented in Australian and international collections, including Artbank, Australia; the Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth; the Besen Collection, Melbourne; and Chanel Ltd, Paris.