Ronnie van Hout's Retrospective at Buxton Contemporary Explores Identity Through Comedy and Horror

From July 12 to October 21, 2018, Buxton Contemporary in Melbourne hosted a retrospective exhibition of the works of Ronnie van Hout, curated by Melissa Keys. The artist, originally from New Zealand and now based in Melbourne, has been active in sculpture, video, and photography for thirty years. Notable pieces include the video series Backdoorman (1996) and Backdoorman II (2003), along with sculptures such as D.E.A.D pronounced dead (2004) and Bad traveller (2010). His video installations, including Stand Up (2016) and Brett and Michelle (2014), were also featured. The 2018 installation Bad Fathers showcases nine life-size nude male sculptures alongside the video King Vader (2018), emphasizing van Hout's investigation of identity through themes of comedy, horror, and self-portraiture, particularly regarding familial fragility and intergenerational inheritance.