Student profiles

Michael Vale
Artist & PhD candidate

When visual artist Michael Vale was handed a deck of cards featuring C.M. Coolidge's painting of dogs playing poker as a child, he had no idea that it would eventually lead to his undertaking a PhD with Monash Art & Design. Yet Vale, whose works are held in a number of public and private collection in Australia and overseas, acknowledges the influence of the playing cards in his PhD research project, "Le Chien Qui Fume" (The Smoking Dog).

"Le Chien Qui Fume", the title of which is drawn from a poem by French surrealist André Breton, is a fiction project of satirical intent. Inspired by the works of "fiction artists" Marcel Broodthaers and Dr Peter Hill, Vale's work presents the story of the smoking dog which challenges notions of artistic authenticity, authorship and worth.

"My intention is to create an episode in art history that has never actually happened," says Vale. "Contemporary art, like museums, presents information in formats which are understood to an intended audience. Underlying these presentations is an essential belief in authorship which is shared by artist, curator and viewer alike. In a similar way, a visitor to a museum trusts that the material presented is authentic, and therefore worthy of contemplation."

Due to complete his PhD in 2005, Vale speaks highly of his experience at Monash: "The artistic community which surrounds me at Monash has been a shot in the arm for my artistic practice. I have found the PhD structure to be especially engaging and rewarding, and the level of support from the faculty to be particularly encouraging. It is a very exciting era for research at Monash Art & Design, and I'm delighted to be part of it."