ARTHOUSE EXHIBITION
2021
'LAYERS OF LIFE IN PAINT'
16th January to 27th March
Group Exhibition
'The Grey Divide of the Brumby'
(refer to statement 'The problem with Prometheus')
Oil on cotton Canvas 81.5x132.5cm
ARTIST STATEMENT
This body of works began with investigations of the everyday life relating to my research of the unfamiliar and to identity. Experiences of life, relating to family, cultural background and day to day life conditioning compacted with childhood memories.
As fires, storms and Covid 19 hit the Aussie shores in this past year, the familiar of everyday life is visited by the unfamiliar and questions regarding the human condition towards nature is visited. Relating the layers of life not only through paint but through familiar scenes that uncover the 'unfamiliar' underneath, once you relate the experience of life in the works and tell a story of what is behind. Things are not always what they seem. For a smile may hide a pain, as a sea may hide a storm beneath its waves.
'The unfamiliar swell of North Steyne' (Sold)
Oil on cotton Canvas 81.5x132.5cm
1200.00
(refer below to the unfamiliar)
'The problem with Prometheus'
Oil on cotton Canvas 122 x 91.8 cm
Not for sale
'THE PROBLEM WITH PROMETHEUS'
Prometheus is to bring to light the plight of all Brumbies
in Australia and all wild Equine animal that has been culled and or trapped
dividing mobs or herds. Resulting in the break-up of equine families, to be
trapped then slaughtered or rehomed. Or killed by culling. In Australia, they are blamed for damaging
the environment as Brumbies are not native to their birth land. They were
brought here by colonisation in 1778.
'The problem with Prometheus' is an investigation on the
human condition regarding his mismanagement of nature which is against nature itself, resulting in catastrophic
environmental factors and resulting in cruelty towards sentient beings such as
Brumbies. Horses belong to the environment and the only thing
destroying nature is 'The Human Condition'.
Prometheus is to give Brumbies a voice and make us aware
of our modern condition, that is working against nature. Brumbies need to be recognised as sentient
beings and be deemed as an Australian Animal,
as we Humans can call ourselves Australian. With a voice, eventually Brumbies can be free of culling and trapping
and roam free as they should in their place, called nature. Please help spread the word and save the Brumbies.
The painting 'The problem with Prometheus' can be viewed in the Graffiti lounge between 16th January to 27th March.
* the equine paintings will have some of the proceeds (1/3) donated to help brumbies in their time of need. Refer to end of Post.
'The grey divide of the Brumby'
Oil on cotton Canvas 81.5x132.5cm
The Unfamiliar
'Art is the air we breathe in everyday life'
'The unfamiliar swell of North Steyne' (Sold)
Oil on cotton Canvas 81.5 x 132.5 cm
$1200.00
The unfamiliar swell was the beginning of the 'underneath scene of the familiar'
It relates stories to the everyday life of what we see but what is unseen by the vision.
On this day the swell reached record sizes as the sea was in a raging storm under, related also by 'The Whitewater Surfer' a scene from North Curl Curl Beach. It started an investigation of what lies under the everyday life once we attach to the visions, colours, cultural experiences and memories of childhood. Finally developing on investigations of nature and the human condition towards nature that led to the Prometheus above.
'The Whitewater Surfer'
Oil on cotton canvas 122 x 91.8 cm
$1100.00
'Cyan, She's a beauty Mate'
Oil on cotton canvas 81.5 x 132.5 cm
$1100.00
Cyan relates to my love of colours and my investigation on colour for my Honours year.
As a child colour was always a special part of my life, as I found that at one stage I was drawing only in pencil and had no colour in my drawings at all. Resulting in the importance of colour not only for visual affect but feelings that are expressed through colour. Debussy was one who could relate to this as he felt that colour related to music as well. (refer to links below)
We all see colour differently and some days are more pastels and other days more vibrant. The two sea paintings relate different days of my everyday life, of scenes even though familiar to me are unfamiliar as I cannot swim well and could never surf for the life of me. Not to mention my fear of deep water. But I love the sea, I relate to it and it calms me and ground me in my thoughts.
The colour Cyan is an ancient colour deriving from Greek. As colour theory is rather complex and much research is involved, I found this last link, that seems to give a short uncomplicated idea of what colour theory may entail.
'Who's that Girl'
Oil on cotton Canvas 122 x 91.8 cm $1500.00
With water dripping down her arm and down her left l leg, 'Who's that Girl' to me, is the icon of the everyday life of our Australian coastline. Surfing was introduced in Australia in 1915 by Hawaiian Duke Kahanamoku.
As I view my everyday life I see 'familiar' scenes that the reality are unfamiliar to me. I have watched groups of friends or solitaire persons of all ages, running down the beach to take the surf on their beloved surfboards. I have watched fathers with sons or daughters sharing their time, watching the surf before they dived into the waves to take a swell and ride it.
These are familiar scenes that I will never physically experience. But they are also childhood memories of my mum's Godsons sucking their boards to take out water or waxing them to stabilize their grip when surfing. Then being told I was not allowed to surf as I was not a good swimmer.
Who's that girl is all this and more as she reminds me of the iconic song 'the girl from Ipanema'. But this girl is not strolling down the beach, she is Aussie and sports a surfboard under her arm running home after catching a wave at North Steyne, Manly Beach.
PRICES ARE NEGOTIABLE
DISCOUNTS FOR MULTIPLE PURCHASES
*Works marked with an asterisks will have a 1/3 of the payment donated to one or
more brumby organisations listed below.
If you wish other paintings not marked with the asterisks to have money donated to the cause please express your wish.
For commissions of works email syndyartist@optsnet.com.au
* EQUINE ORGANISATIONS
*
*
SKETCHES DONATED
TO BARMAH BRUMBY PRESERVATION GROUP
For Raffles (to be advised)
'AMONGST THE DANDELION'S'
Dark Days for Barmah Brumbies
Pastel Pitt Pencil on
A3 Black Canson Paper 140gm.
'DARK DAYS FOR BARMAH BRUMBY'
Derwent Colour Pencil
on
A3 Black Canson Paper 140gm
Visit Barmah Brumby Preservation Group
For details of raffles
'THE PROBLEM WITH PROMETHEUS' 
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