Van Thanh Rudd was born in Nambour, Queensland and is currently working as a visual artist in Melbourne's west. His involvement in the arts over the last 15 included his early obsession with landscape painting around Nambour and Brisbane. Once moving to Melbourne in 1995, he studied figure drawing in various community venues around Melbourne. Since moving from Brisbane, Van was also playing as a drummer, bass guitarist and keyboardist in various Melbourne pop/rock bands (Cheezlekane, Seconds, Stalis Vetch and Granma). The bands played in many Melbourne venues including the Punters Club and the Corner Hotel. He tried very hard to balance music (gigging alot) and visual art until about 2007, when he decided that visual art could last him into old age. Van has exhibited his art regularly since 1995. He had his first solo show at the Northcote Library (RampArt) in 1997. He was briefly curator of Rampart in 1997 - the space was co-run by the Northcote Library and DAAG.

 

Van's first step into art/politics was by becoming a member of the Darebin Artists Action Group (DAAG) in 1997. Deeper involvement in global politics came about while attending the successful anti-globalization rally (S11) in Melbourne in 2000. Van's art began to follow his left-wing views when he met his amazing partner Tania Jorquera in 2002-03. Her family history was one of struggle against the U.S backed Pinochet regime in Chile. There was a direct correlation between Chile and Vietnam (Van's heritage).

In 2004 he created The Carriers Project where he carries on foot his large paintings through busy city streets and shopping malls. He toured this project nationally in 2007. In 2007 he co-directed CLASS artspace (Nth Melbourne) with activist Roberto Jorquera. In 2009 he was co-founder of the collectives A-17P (Artists of the 17th Parallel) and The CEOs (Collective Engagement Operatives). Some of his latest exhibitions are called Eternal Residencies, curated by deceased victims of 20th and 21st century imperial aggression. They are eternal interventions into institutions such as the Guggenheim Museum and The White House.

His art is influenced, inspired and directed towards movements of social justice around the globe. His major aim is to expose his often controversial art to as many people as possible in order to inspire discussion and debate about art's role in today's environmental, political and economic crises.

He is also an active indoor soccer player.

His artworks include the mediums of installation, drawing, collage, painting and performance.

Van Thanh Rudd (CV – 2008-09)

Grants / Awards
2006 –Selected for KULTOUR 2007 . Touring of “The Carriers – Local Terrain” destinations including: Sydney, Lismore, Perth, Canberra, Brisbane, Fremantle. The Carriers is an ongoing project by Van to expose politically engaging art to new audiences beyond the gallery. By literally carrying his paintings on foot in public spaces, he hopes to encourage debate amongst the local communities.

2009 - Finalist, Sunshine Coast Art Prize

2008 – Off the Kerb Encouragement Award, PROUD , VCA student union members exhibition
2007 – Finalist – Sunshine Coast Art Award (2nd Prize)
2004 – Finalist – Metro5 Art Award

Education
2008-09 – Masters of Visual Art (Painting), Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne
2003 – Honours Degree/ Painting, RMIT
1991-93 – Bachelor of Arts Humanities majoring in Politics and Society and
Media Production, Griffith University, Brisbane Qld

Overseas Research
2005 – Cuba, Vietnam, Chile, France
Research of past and present political systems, social movements and the role of art within the above countries over a 3 month period.

Solo Exhibitions
2008 to eternity, "enternal residency" curated by dead Chileans, Guggenheim Museum, NY, USA
2008 to eternity, "eternal residency” curated by dead Afghanis, White House, Washington DC, USA
2009 – “Used Car from Afghanistan”, Off the Kerb Gallery, Collingwood, Vic
2008 – “The Carriers – Melbourne Art Fair Intrusion”, Exhibition Building, Carlton, Victoria
2008 – Untitled, Installation in water fountain zone, NGV , St Kilda Rd, Vic
2008 – “One Week in September”, McCulloch Gallery, Melbourne
2008 – “And Then Young Jesus Shouts:”, CLASS artspace, 360 Victoria St Nth Melbourne
2008 – “Bombers”, Sturt Street Artspace, VCA , Melbourne
2007 – The Carriers – Local Terrain, National Tour (kultour), Casula Powerhouse (Sydney), 48hrs Visual Art Festival (Byron Bay), Metro Arts ( Brisbane), Belconnen (ACT), Fremantle Festival (WA), Mt Macedon (VIC)
2007 – The Carriers – Melbourne Social Forum, Brunswick, Vic
2007 – The Carriers – “Intrusion at Art Melbourne07” – carried painting into exhibition building
2007 – “Operation Enduring Freedom”, Melbourne Social Forum, at CERES (carrying project)
2006 – “Genocide – The Australian Scream”, The Carriers, During Stolenwealth Games, Federation Square and Melbourne CBD , supported by Trocadero Art Space.
2005 – “The Carriers”(in conjuction with Exposure), Big West Festival, Maribrynong region – carrying paintings with Michael Brennan along Footscray Streets, Malls, High Point shopping centre
2005 – “And The Woman Said, Let Our People Go”, Trocadero Art Space, Footscray
2004 – “The Carriers Project”, for Architects for Peace, Arts Centre Undercroft, City
2004 – “Intravenous – the Carrier”, Melbourne Fringe Festival
2004 – “There is No Surrender”, Santina’s window space, High St Northcote
2004 – “Intravenous – The Carrier”, Carrying Painting in Melbourne City including NGV foyer
2003 – ” Layered Breathe, Halo (fuck, shit)”, Honeyeaters, Palmer St Richmond, Vic
2002 – ” Conduits Hereafter” First Site Gallery, RMIT , Melbourne
1997 - "Five Wives", Northcote Library, Vic

Group Exhibitions (selected)

2009 - F.A.C.T 4, Footscray Community Arts Centre
2009 - Group show at Slot Space, Redfern, Sydney
2009 - UnAustralian - with Dom Golding, Big West Festival, Footscray, Victoria, Australia.
2009 – “Nam Bang”, Casula Powerhouse, Sydney, NSW
2009 – “Uprising”, Degraves St Subway, Melbourne, Vic
2008 – “PROUD”, VCA student union members exhibition
2008 – “Ho Chi Minh City – Young Artists”, City Library, Flinders Lane, Melbourne
2008 – “I Love Pho”, Footscray Community Arts Centre, Melbourne
2007(OCT) – “Alternatives”, Latin America Asia Pacific Solidarity Conference, Trades Hall, Melbourne. Speakers Artists and Activists from Aotearoa/NZ, Bolivia, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Guinea, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philipines, Sth Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Venezuela…etc
2007 – “Nuclear Posters”, Contributers Exhibtion, Breakdown Press, Artery, Fitzroy, Vic
2007 – “Smells like Sulphur”, A tribute to Venezuela and the Art of telling Bush to Piss Off…, with Roberto Jorquera, Trocadero Art Space, Footscray, Victoria.
2005 – “Exposure”(with Michael Brennan, Juan Ford), Trocadero Art Space, Footscray
2005 – Set design for “Shrimp”, play by Dominic Golding for Big West Festival
2004 – “The Carriers”, Northcote Library, Separation St, Northcote, Vic
2004 – “Replicate CD launch”, Group Show, Artary Project Space, Regent
2004 – “Allowance (Artful Bludgers Work Hard)”, Preston Centre for Creative Living
2004 – “Three Figures”, Preston Community Centre, Northcote Library, Melbourne
2004 – Metro5 Art Award, Finalist Selection, Metro 5 Gallery, Melbourne
2003 – “Arm”, Selection of works from current Honours/Painting Students, RMIT
2002 – Selected Artists from Monash, VCA , RMIT, Dickerson Gallery, Richmond, Vic
2002 – “Nu Art”, Exhibitionists Collective Show, 4 Cats Gallery, Collingwood
2002 – New Collectives Auction, First Site Gallery, RMIT University
2000 – ” Recent Paintings from Nick Rolph, Alex Stokic, Van Rudd , ya Gallery, Victoria St Fitzroy
1998 – “New Paintings by Van Rudd and Vanessa Oter, Goya Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
1996 – Roar Studio Group Show, Fitzroy Town Hall, Fitzroy, VIC
1994 – Nambour Show Art Competition, Nambour Show Grounds, QLD
1993 – Contemporary Landscape Art Competition, Gallery on Adelaide St, Brisbane, QLD

Publications (selected)
2008 – Cover Image for Overlander 92, an Australia Council Funded Writers Magazine
2008 – “Young Rudd’s Artwork Too Hot For MCC ”, ABC Radio National, May 23
2008 – Katherine Bradstreet, “Protest Art Censored”, Greenleft Weekly, June 14
2008 – “Art Attack”, ABC TV 7pm World News Today, May 23
2008 – Michelle Grattan, “Young Rudd’s Artwork Too Hot for MCC ”, The Age, May23
2008 – Michelle Grattan, “Is the Art Fuss Justified?”, Sydney Morning Herald, May 25
2008 – Lucy Battersby, “Under the Influence: Rudd’s Work Echoes Banksy”, The Age Online, May 23
2008 – Lucy Battersby, “Rudd Work Inspires Controversy and Commentary”, The AgeMay 24
2008 – Herald Sun, “Council Rejects Painting by PM’s Nephew”
2007 – Tony Iltis, “The Art of Telling Bush to Piss Off”, GreenLeft Weekly, May 24
2007 – Suzanne Carbone, “Brushing Up on Rudd’s Politics”, The Age, June 11
2007 – Suzanne Carbone, “In The Picture”, The Age, July 9
2007 – Robyn Ironside, “ Walk of Art Moved On – Rudd’s Nephew Faced Arrest Over Canvas for Peace”, The Courier Mail, July 7.
2007 – “Art For the Masses”, Liverpool Leader, June 6
2007 – Anne Tarasov, “Art That Can’t Fail to Move”, Liverpool City Champion, June 13
2007 – Helena Sivric, “Art Takes to the Streets”, Liverpool Leader, June 20
2007 – Blythe Seinor, “Just Don’t Tell Uncle Kev – Rudd Nephew Courts Controversy with Burning Flag Painting”, Sunshine Coast Daily, August 16
2006 – Stolewealth Poster Series, Breakdown Press
2006 – Azlan McLennan, “Reclaiming the Public”, Green Left Weekly, Oct
2006 – Gillian Davey, “Van T Rudd”, Direct Action Newsletter, Issue 2
2006 – Briar Sinclair, “Maidstone Artist Moved On”, Western Times, April 11
2006 – Christine de Kock, “Dreamtime a Nightmare”, The Star, April 4
2005 – “war Vet Dad Inspires”, Western Times, Nov 15
2004 – “Politics of A Carrier”, Artery Magazine, Vol 2, Issue 2, Dec