ART OF BUCK 2015
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The Art of BUCK is a dynamic, multi-layered project marking 10 years of Krump in Australia. The program brought together a range of ambitious initiatives, including the world’s first Krump exhibition, the international battle event 'Clash: NZ vs Australia', a series of Krump and documentary media workshops at SIGNAL, and a Krump and All Styles battle event featuring a unique collaboration with architecture students from RMIT.
BUCK, Scratch Gallery, North Melbourne, 2015
BUCK is a landmark photo and video exhibition—the first of its kind to extensively document Krump culture. Held at Scratch Gallery, it marked Rachel Main’s first solo exhibition, presenting printed works, a documentary, and a slow-motion video artwork created over six years within the Melbourne Krump community.
The exhibition explores both the intensity of the dance and the everyday lives of its practitioners, challenging misconceptions and affirming Krump as a vital artform. Large-scale photographic paste-ups create an immersive, dynamic environment, with the raw, warehouse setting of the gallery reflecting the street spaces where Krump sessions take place. A live Krump performance on opening night further activated the space.
OUTCOMES
CLASH OF THE NATIONS: NZ Vs AUSTRALIA Krump Event
This was the first Australasian Krump battle to bring together the Australian and New Zealand Krump communities. Held at Scratch Gallery alongside the exhibition, the event gave dancers and audiences the opportunity to experience both the live battles and the gallery show, with participants travelling from across both countries to take part.
KRUMP AND DOCUMENTARY WORKSHOPS at SIGNAL
A series of Krump and media workshops accompanied the program, supported by SIGNAL and City of Melbourne, offering opportunities for skill development and deeper engagement. Led by members of Melbourne’s Krump community, the Krump workshops explored foundational techniques, krumpography, and the origins of the dance, while a media workshop led by Rachel Main introduced the fundamentals of documentary photography and video, culminating in participants creating work to be presented at 'Undergrounds Finest: Krump and All Styles' dance event.
'UNDERGROUNDS FINEST: KRUMP AND ALLSTYLES' event at SIGNAL
The dance event brought together Krump and All Styles in a vibrant program featuring an open session, battles, a Krump workshop, and performances by MUTE and HITM crews. A unique collaboration with RMIT Landscape and Architecture students saw a design competition come to life, with the winning team constructing striking wooden seating and pods that were installed throughout the plaza, shaping the atmosphere of the event.
