COMA is pleased to present The Plaintiff’s Third Face, a new body of work by Melbourne-based artist Nick Modrzewski, on view 9 July – 14 August, 2021 in the gallery.
Viewing modern day law and its associated practices through a theatrical and historical lens, The Plaintiff’s Third Face suggests that to exist in the legal system, a series of ‘faces’, disguises or masks must be worn. The presentation looks at how the law uses ‘masking’ to construct an elaborate fictional universe, populated by characters who are written into existence during legal disputes. Plaintiffs, defendants, debtors, creditors, judges and legislators all act their parts in both the real and imagined processes of law.
I feel compelled to pull apart law, language and the body,
only to stick them all back together again in
a hodgepodge of flopping, jostling parts.
– Nick Modrzewski
Drawing on historical and contemporary sources, Modrzewski unpacks how legal ideas travel through time and space. The rituals of law are performed across different artistic mediums: a public accusation is rendered in paint; a judgment is etched into an ancient scroll, and an arsenal of floppy sculptural weaponry is used to enforce a debt. One thing is for certain: to be visible in the eyes of the law, it is necessary to adorn one of its many masks.
Nick Modrzewski holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Victorian College of the Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Melbourne. He has exhibited locally and internationally, including at Discordia (Melbourne); First Draft (Sydney); the Institute of Contemporary Arts (Singapore); Blindside (Melbourne); Fort Delta (Melbourne); KINGS ARI (Melbourne); OH Open House (Singapore); and the Australian High Commission (Singapore). His writing has been published by Running Dog; Art & Australia; Monash University Museum of Art; un Magazine; Writing & Concepts; the Lifted Brow; Fireflies; VRE Books and The Research Handbook on Art and Law. Nick is the co-chair of West Space.
Nick Modrzewski
The Face of the Pronounced Accuser, 2021
acrylic on board, powder coated welded steel frame
159 x 146 cm framed / 62 19/32 x 57 15/32 inches framed
Nick Modrzewski
The Evening of the Legislative Assembly (Face Swap), 2021
acrylic on board, powder coated welded steel frame
185 x 151 cm framed / 72 13/16 x 59 7/8 inches framed
Nick Modrzewski
Facial Chamber, 2021
acrylic on board, powder coated welded steel frame
156 x 121 cm framed / 61 13/32 x 47 5/8 inches framed
Nick Modrzewski
A Quorum of Noses, 2021
aged book, mouldable plastic, oil-based pig- ment, epoxy resin glue, gold foil, labels
18 x 12 x 9 cm / 7 3/32 x 4 23 x 32 x 3 17/32 inches
Nick Modrzewski
Masks 1-54, 2021
Further details see catalogue
Nick Modrzewski
Facial Delivery Service (Evening), 2021
acrylic on board, powder coated welded steel frame
92 x 80 cm framed / 36 7/32 x 31 1/2 inches framed
Nick Modrzewski
Armoury, 2021
acrylic on board, powder coated welded steel frame
185 x 151 cm framed / 72 13/16 x 59 7/8 inches framed
Nick Modrzewski
Beckshire v Handleman, 2021
Edition 1 of 5
digital print on aged, Hahnemuhle bamboo 290gsm paper, coffee, mouldable plastic nail
111.7 x 21 cm / 46 11/32 x 8 1/4
Nick Modrzewski
Faces: A Regulatory Guide, 2021
aged book, labels, gold foil, sewn spine
25 x 16 x 8 cm / 9 27 x 32 x 6 9/32 x 3 5/32 inches
