Soulmanau

Within contemporary arts practice there has been an increasing focus on notions of the archive with particular emphasis in the fields of photography and on collections of historical documents. Vinyl records are documents of popular culture and record collecting is a common social practise. But can a record collection be an artwork? And what might transform a record collection into an archive? 9000 vinyl records examines these issues. The exhibition displays artist Stephen Williams’ personal collection of original first pressing soul records and record sleeves, combining them with a complete indexed catalogue, text, video and recorded music which relate directly to the records themselves. 9000 vinyl records explores the aesthetics of the archive including collecting, cataloguing and display of archival objects. The exhibition examines how personal choices have informed the development of the archive, how collecting might relate to obsessive compulsive behaviour and how taste, aesthetic judgement and fetishism shape the development of an archive. The exhibition challenges the viewer to think about their relationship to objects and to reflect on their own impulses to collect. Exhibition details: fortyfivedownstairs, 45 Flinders Lane. Melbourne 3000, fortyfivedownstairs.com Gallery Hours: Tuesday to Friday 11am-5pm, Saturday 12pm-4pm Exhibition enquiries: Briar Holt (Gallery Coordinator) Phone 03 9662 9966, Email briar@fortyfivedownstairs.com