Creative Power Couple: Gillie and Marc Schattner

Sydney Standards

David Rex-Livingston of the Rex-Livingston Gallery opened the ‘Go Dogs Go – paintings and sculpture’ exhibition by Gillie and Marc Schattner on Thursday night.

It had been a long day and I was feeling a little worn out so I was pleasantly surprised when I walked into the gallery.

As I mixed with the crowd I gazed at the creations being exhibited.

The bronze sculptures of dog/human hybrids sitting on or beside other animals exuded warmth and good feeling. The paintings drew me in with their detail leaving me fascinated and interested.

The artworks created a relationship [with me] to the extent that the subjects depicted were no longer that of dog/human hybrids but of kindred spirits.

There was something unique about these artworks – Gillie and Marc. Talking to them it became apparent that they were in unison with one another, collaborating side by side with their creations, with some works taking more than a year to complete.

Impressive enough one would think, however, to my wonder Gillie explained, ‘I’m left handed, Marc right handed, so when painting we start at opposite sides of the canvas’.

Gillie and Marc are acclaimed worldwide with their works held in collections both nationally and internationally. Organisations who have commissioned artworks include the Australian Zoo, the Sydney Children’s hospital and the Hilton Hotel, Singapore.

The exhibition is on view at the Rex-Livingston Gallery until 28 November. > more