A Brief History of the 9x5

11 February 2011

The 9×5 members exhibition, (inspired by the Heidelberg School of artists in the late 1800s, in which cigar boxes measuring roughly 9 × 5 inches were used as the substrate in an exhibition of the same name), has been a mainstay of IA’s exhibition activities since 1995. Held in different venues over the years, such as the Victorian Arts Centre, Chapel off Chapel (Prahran), Books Illustrated (Port Melbourne) and Space 39 (Melbourne), it is a great opportunity for members to have a little fun. All work is available for sale by auction at the shows opening, with the occasional pieces being subject to quite a lot of heated bidding (including a piece by international visitor Henrik Drescher which fetched over $1000 in 1999).

Memories being what they are, we shall endeavour to collect a comprehensive list of themes and venues and post them here. (email info@illustratorsaustralia.com if you have any extra info).

Underlined titles link to an online gallery of the exhibition.

2011 – Rapture (Space 39, Melbourne)
2010 – Untold Stories (Space 39, Melbourne)
2009 – 20 (in honour of IA’s 20th Birthday) (Space 39, Melbourne)
2008 – Year of the Rat (Space 39, Melbourne)
2007 – Connected (Space 39, Melbourne)
2006 – Mix It Up (Victorian Arts Centre)
2005 – Trash (Books Illustrated, Port Melbourne)
2004 – Performance! (Victorian Arts Centre)
2003 –
2002 – Drama Queen , (Victorian Arts Centre)
2001 –
2000 – Wish You Were Here (Books Illustrated, Port Melbourne)
1999 –
1998 – Icons of Australia (Chapel off Chapel, Prahran)
1997 –
1996 – Bad Manners (Chapel off Chapel, Prahran)
1995 – Endangered Species (Chapel off Chapel, Prahran)

Scroll below to see clips from previous year preparations and openings:

Set up & opening 2011 9×5 Melbourne:

Set up & opening 2010 9×5 Melbourne:

Opening 2010 9× 5 Brisbane

Set up & opening 2009 9×5 Melbourne:

Set up & opening 2008 9×5 Melbourne:

Set up of 2007 9×5 Melbourne:

Auction 2007 9×5 Melbourne: