You’re Invited: Dion Agius aND John Respondek’s Show at Rainbow Studios
Between travelling around the world as the creative director of Ritual, surfing (obviously) and all the other fingers of the pie Dion Agius seems to have his hands in, he has still managed to bring together another NOID show at Rainbow Studios.
This time, joining long term friend and creative collaborater John Respondek for a duo exhibition worth the weekday venture. Returning with an expanded collection from his first NOID’s show and with John’s impressive catalogue of surf photography. After a bit of phone tag, we managed to get Dion on the blower for an update on what to expect next week.
You kicked off your first show last year, obviously there has been enough momentum to do another, how has the feedback been since then?
Yeah, it was good. That first show came about because I was injured for six months or so and couldn’t surf, living up at Ozzy Wright’s place, surrounded by his creativity. I actually made heaps before Jade from Rainbow Studio’s even approached me about a show, and up until then I didn’t really know what I was going to do with it. I just had it in my house, but she caught wind and I sent her some stuff and she suggested a show. That was cool because I had about thirty pieces ready to go. And I sold through all of but about two pieces which I didn’t expect at all. I was tripping. Jade was immediately keen for another show. But this time around I wasn’t injured and have been travelling so much with Ritual so didn’t have as much time as I would have liked to dedicate to the NOIDS. But the deadline was good! It will be interesting the second time around. Hopefully people will dig the news.
I’m sure they will. The first show was a lot of stools and frames and wall hanging pieces - have you expanded the range?
Yeah there’s a good collection of tables in this one. I like to call them lamp tables. And a bunch more mirrors. And then John Respondek is also showing a bunch of photos that he has shot over the years upstairs, because the gallery is kind of split into two levels.
Yeah, what's your relationship with John and his part in the show?
We had always spoken about collaborating on something so this was the perfect opportunity. I made a bunch of frames for his photos, so there will be a lot of pieces that are a mix of my work and his. He would come down and stay at my place and we’d tinker away in the shed for a few days just figuring out framing. I’m really excited about those pieces. All the photos are things we’ve worked on together, like surf trips back in the day. It was nice to be able to bring it all together.
Last time I spoke to you about this you were kind of doing it on the fly - do you have a bit more of a studio set up now?
Yeah well I currently bounce between my spot on the South Coast and Tassie and there’s a little studio or shed on each which I’ve just converted into my little workspace. I don’t need much room, it’s just a really messy operation. A little dusty fucking chemical room.
Small but chaotic set up, that reminds me of a lot of things. And when you do a piece are you someone that likes to start and finish the one thing in one go?
So for these ones, it's nice to get all the shaping done first. All of the carving of the foam up to about 70% of the way until painting them because when it comes to resin coating them, you want to be able to get a bit of a roll on and do it all at once because the resin starts to set and is super messy. So I shape them all and get them all to a point where they are all ready to resin coat at once and then smash them all out in the last bit.
How long is the show on for?
It’ll be open for a week and opening night is on the 20th.
And everyone can buy a piece?
Yeah so there will be a catalogue sent out before where items will be available for pre-sale before opening night. Everything is available to ship worldwide as well. I had a few orders from New York and places over the globe last year which was super cool. Most of the pieces are super light except obviously the mirrors with the glass but otherwise it makes it easier to ship to wherever.
Oh I didn’t even think about that! Well there you go, thanks Dion, we’ll see you there next week.
Thanks Sammy.
Opening: Thursday 20th November, 6–9pm at Rainbow Studios, 348 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst. RSVP HERE.
