The Art Fair Murders – The Avenel International Art Fair, coming to ARTBOX soon

Now settled in its new home in Jubilee Park, Avenel, another exhibition is due to open in the space soon.

Euroa-based, Glasgow-born Australian artist Dr Peter Hill will showcase an interesting take – creating a fictional art fair booth in the space throughout November – entitled The Art Fair Murders.

“One of my ongoing Superfictions, dating back to 1994, involves creating fictional art fair booths,” Dr Hill explained.

“Commercial art fairs have gained in popularity since the first one in Cologne, in 1967. These are held mostly in large trades halls and conference centres, such as “Jeff’s Shed” in Melbourne, or the old Navy Piers in Chicago.

“Like boat shows or home shows, they usually only last for five days. They are all about money. As soon as an artwork is sold, it is replaced by another – understandable, as some of these booths at international fairs can cost as much as $80,000 to hire. And gallery dealers have to transport their artworks across oceans and continents, at jaw-dropping expense.”

Dr Hill said he also enjoyed contrasting the politics of the art fair with those of the museum, where some gallery hangs go unchanged for years.

“I also allow the novelist and pulp fiction side of my character to emerge by speculating that there is a serial killer loose in the art world, in 1989, the great year of revolutions, killing a different art world personality in each of the twelve months,” he said.

“Be confused. You may find yourself entering an art installation and leaving a novel.”

The Art Fair Murders, Avenel, runs throughout November at Jubilee Park, close to the library and train station.

Dr Hill has exhibited his Superfiction projects in the Biennale of Sydney (MCA), The Museum of Modern Art Oxford (UK), and a range of other galleries nationally and internationally.

Follow Peter Hill on Instagram: Superfictions1

Email: fakenewsandsuperfictions@gmail.com

• The Art Fair Murders
• ARTBOX
• Jubilee Park, Avenel
• November 3 – November 28

ARTBOX is being brought to Strathbogie Shire with Creative Victoria grant funding.

Dr Peter Hill (PhD) is an artist, writer, and independent curator. He is an Honorary Enterprise Professor at the VCA, University of Melbourne.