THOMAS DRY BARRY

My practice is at odds with traditions that rely heavily on modes of classification.
I am interested in de-contextualizing material from traditional moorings, by exploring the cultural layering of my subjects.

2007
Uppstaging Nature

2006
Untiitled - Winning / Losing a Continent
Preview
Format: 48 minutes
Abstract
A contemporary reworking of one of the earliest feature length films, made in South Africa.
Based on the historic conflict between the Dutch Pioneers, Portuguese Traders, American Missionaries and Zulu Nation. This film has resonance with the recent war between Angola and South Africa, in which the United States and Cuba were players.

2005

2004
Frogs are not so bad
Collaboration with Dora Longo Bahia, Mboza, South Africa
Solitude
Collaboration with Dora Longo Bahia and Ex-cogication
Ndumo,Kwa Zulu Natal, Pretoria Art Gallery, South Africa
1st Prize
Outlet, Pretoria, South Africa
1996
Brown and Green: Pretoria Art Gallery, South Africa
1995
3 person show: Thomas Barry, Jeremy Wafer, Siemon Allen, Rembrant Van Rijn Gallery Johannesburg, South Africa.
Mud ensemble has been an ongoing collaboration with numerous South African musicians with shows at various locations between 1995-1999.
1994
Assistant crew leader / artist: Interim Bill of South African Rights Mural, Old Central Prison, Durban, South Africa.
Co-curator / artist: ‘Durban Art in Transit’,
an exhibition housed on a train, travelling between Durban and the Grahamstown Arts Festival, South Africa.
1990
Student exhibition: Department of Fine Art, University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Education
1992-1995
National Diploma in Fine Art, with distinction.
Technikon Natal (now Durban Institute of Technology), Durban, South Africa.
Undergraduate study: Department of Fine Art, Technikon Natal, Durban, South Africa.
1990-1991
Undergraduate study: Department of Fine Art, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Group Representative: Fine Art University of Pretoria

Solo Exhibitions
2004
In celebration of +- 32 years of Freedom, Outlet gallery, Pretoria, South Africa
2003
First prize, Outlet gallery, Pretoria, South Africa
1993
Flat Gallery, Durban, South Africa

Selected Exhibitions
2005

Non-existent Flag
nothing
‘The Flag Project’ London

2004
Frogs are not so bad
Collaboration with Dora Longo Bahia, Mboza, South Africa
Solitude
Collaboration with Dora Longo Bahia and Ex-cogication,Pretoria Art Gallery and Ndumo, South Africa

2003
For now, we have no solutions
for the exhibition ‘Agora’, Collaboration with Jena McCarthy: Transition gallery, London, United Kingdom
One night show, Gallery 291, London, November 2003

2002
Blindspot, Dry Barry Gallery, Fietas Artist Studios
Afrodisiac, Spark Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

2000
Sulsouth, Maputo, Mozambique

1999
Mud ensemble has been an ongoing collaboration with numerous South African musicians with shows at various locations between 1995-1999.

1998
‘Roteiros Roteiros Roteiros Roteiros Roteiros Roteiros Roteiros’
XXIV Såo Paulo Bienalle, Brazil.
Collaboration with Fernando Alvim and Carlos Garaicoa.
‘memorias intimas marcas’: A Film collaboration: Memorias Intimas Marcas, A collaboration with Fernando Alvim focusing on the conflict between South Africa, Angola and Cuba the work was shown in Johannesburg, Pretoria and various international locations.
1996
adventures of the carrot man
Brown and Green: Pretoria Art Gallery, South Africa
1995
3 person show
Thomas Barry, Jeremy Wafer, Siemon Allen, Rembrant Van Rijn Gallery Johannesburg, South Africa.
1994
Assistant crew leader / artist: Interim Bill of South African Rights Mural, Old Central Prison, Durban, South Africa.
Co-curator / artist: ‘Durban Art in Transit’,
an exhibition housed on a train, travelling between Durban and the Grahamstown Arts Festival, South Africa.
1990
Student exhibition
Department of Fine Art, University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Publications
Allen, Siemon: “The FLAT Gallery – Conceptual Practices in Durban, South Africa”, essay in AUTHENTIC EXCENTRIC – Conceptualism in Contemporary African Art, Salah Hassan & Olu Oguibe (eds), Aperto Exhibition Catalogue, 49th Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy, 2001
Allen, Siemon: “A Black Voice”, essay in Grey Areas, Brenda Atkinson & Candice Breitz (eds), Johannesburg, South Africa, 1999
Allen, Siemon: The FLAT Gallery (1993 – 1995), FLAT International, Washington, USA, 1999

Affiliations
I have been involved in numerous initiatives and organizations geared towards building Democracy in South Africa.
I was a founding member of the Flat gallery, an artist's initiative that operated in Durban, South Africa between 1993 and 1995 and continues in various permutations. I have subsequently worked collaboratively on numerous art projects and as an independent filmmaker.
My work was included in the first Johannesburg Biennale, Africus 95, XXIV Såo Paulo Bienalle, Brazil and various national and international exhibitions. My work includes an ongoing series of painting, sculpture, installation, video and audio, where the lines between disciplines are deliberately blurred.

2007
Member Metroplolitan Museum of Art
2006
Member Whitney Museum
Member Metroplolitan Museum of Art
2003
franchise
2000 – 2002
Fietas Art Studios
1995 -1999
Mud Ensemble
1993 - 2006
Flat Gallery / International
Committee member: Natal Society of the Arts, Durban, South Africa.(now Kwa-Zulu Natal Society of the Arts).
Kwa-Zulu Natal Representative to: National Arts Council conference: on a draft white paper on arts and culture, Pretoria, South Africa.
1992
Co-curator: National Sculpture Symposium Exhibition, Durban, South Africa.
Visiting artist: Technikon Natal (Now Durban Institute of Technology), Durban, South Africa.
1991
Executive member (community involvement portfolio): Students for a Democratic Society, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Co-ordinator and tutor: People’s Education Project (P.E.P), Mamelodi, South Africa.
Student Representative: National Education Co-ordinating Committee (N.E.C.C).
Pretoria Spokesperson: End Conscription Campaign Pretoria, South Africa (E.C.C).
Participated in a “sit-in” at the now defunct Consul General Of Bophutotswana (Apartheid Homeland) in protest of the death penalty, during a hunger strike by prisoners on death row, securing a stay of execution.
Group Representative: Fine Art University of Pretoria, South Africa
Executive member (community involvement portfolio): Students for a Democratic Society (University Of Pretoria)
Tutor: People’s Education project (P.E.P)
Spokesperson: End Conscription Campaign (E.C.C) Pretoria, South Africa
Student Representative: National Education Co-ordinating Committee (N.E.C.C)
1990
Guide: ecumenical tour of the Pretoria Witwatersrand Vereeniging Region – Idasa (Institute for a Democratic alternative for South Africa).
Tutor: People’s Education Project (P.E.P), a project between Students for a Democratic Society at Pretoria University and Vista University Mamelodi, South Africa.
1989
Founding member - South African Youth For Tomorrow Today (SAYFTT) Idasa (Institute for a Democratic alternative for South Africa). A broad based non-racial forum for youth encouraging free interaction, addressing various issues, including :The education crisis, environmental issues, township – city exchange, conscription, culture.
Conscientious Objector - 771 End Conscription Campaign (E.C.C) stand against forced military conscription for white males, under ‘Apartheid’, in South Africa.