The Thousands

Capturing her own brand of theatricality in familiar and mundane settings, Sydney photomedia artist Anne Zahalka has a tendency towards artificial spaces that deal with nature as a decorative, mythological fantasy.

Her series ‘Leisureland’ focused on the immersive, hyperreal and highly constructed spaces dedicated Australian sport, leisure and entertainment. Presented as domains of escapism void of natural light or contact with the outside world, she looked at venues like theme parks, casinos, rock climbing gyms and the RSL.**Ah, the RSL. Once havens of canteen-style hot lunches, steely patriotism and dusty ochre-brown velours and vinyls, they are fast being invaded by stainless steel, lounge music and suede pouffes.

Do your bit to help keep the dream alive and pay tribute to this fading Australian icon at NG Gallery’s new exhibition, A BAR TO CALL HOME. A selection from Anne’s Leisureland series will be shown alongside work from 24 other artists who have represented some aspect of the ubiquitous RSL.