This Is No Fantasy

When it comes to harmonious female collaborations, it’s hard to go past Melbourne’s This Is No Fantasy. A joint venture between gallerists Dianne Tanzer and Nicola Stein, the gallery represents a dynamic range of artists with an almost even split between gender. Showing internationally since 2011, Tanzer and Stein attest to having seen an increased appetite for Australian art overseas, which in turn bolsters the global reputation of fairs such as Sydney Contemporary. When asked about trends in the art market right now, the two gallerists say they’ve recently clocked a curious increase in bright, neon-coloured textural art, created with unusual mediums. It’s work that could also be described as ‘Instagrammable moments’ — art that snatches the viewer’s attention sharply and swiftly rather than striking on a deeper level. “As people insist they’re becoming more time poor, everything — even artwork — appears to be a more experiential interaction, and then a move on to the next,” says Stein.

At Sydney Contemporary, Tanzer and Stein are most excited to be showing new work by one-time Sulman Prize-winner Victoria Reichelt. “We’ve represented Victoria since 2005,” says Tanzer. “We are beguiled by her lovingly detailed and refined painting. Her art reflects our changing society in that she references obsolescence and redundancy, which is becoming more and more apparent.”