James & Eleanor Avery - Malleus Maleficarum

The title of their current show Malleus Maleficarum was taken from a 15th century European manual for witch hunters, its translation from Latin is ‘the hammer of the witches’. The manual was written to prove that witchcraft was in fact real. It went on to have huge ramifications on European society.

The work of James and Eleanor Avery draws on many layers from history, which they merge with contemporary iconography to build new meanings. “We use symbolism and recognisable forms offset against arbitrary configurations to create works which are ambiguous and have multiple readings.”

The Averys have held collaborative exhibitions at Studio Trisorio, Rome; Ryan Renshaw Gallery, Brisbane; Grantpirrie, Sydney; Sherman Galleries Artbox, Sydney; Metro Arts, Brisbane; Artspace, Sydney; and Spike Island, Bristol, UK. They have had work included in curated group exhibitions at Nellie Castan Gallery, Melbourne; MOP , Sydney; Accademia di Romania, Rome; and The British School at Rome. Represented at ARCO , Madrid and Artefiera, Bologna by Studio Trisorio, Rome. Studio residencies include the Australia Council Visual Arts Board studio at The British School at Rome, 2008; Artspace, Sydney, 2007; Spike Island, Bristol, UK, 2005.