The relationship between humans and nature has been one of the most prominent themes of art history and I believe it is a very important subject for artists to explore at this point in time.
Over the years I have used various techniques to explore this basic theme including installation and assemblage, but my practice has mainly involved painting. I appreciate the meditative observational nature of this medium. Painting allows the time and space to develop a type of intimacy with the subject that yields great rewards. Painting also leaves a lot of room for interpretation and it is the meeting of pure observation with the inner life and conditioning of the art maker that is most interesting.
Most recently I am painting objects from nature – leaves, seedpods, flowers and other found items. These are things I find when I am out walking. Some are from close to home and some are from travels further afield. I am hoping through the process of engaging with these items via observation and painting that they reveal their secrets.
CONTACT: joak234@hotmail.com
CV
Education
2001 Bachelor of Fine Art (Painting) Victorian College of the Arts
Solo Exhibitions
2017 Nature Portraits Northern Rivers Community Gallery, Ballina (October)
2009 Human Natures CPM Gallery, Murwillumbah
2006 Unrennovation Red Gallery, Contemporary Art Space,
Nth Fitzroy, Melbourne
Group Exhibition
2017 The Flower Show M-Arts, Murwillumbah
2016 Botanicus Murwillumbah Art Trail, Murwillumbah
2015 Arts Northern Rivers Pop-up Tweed, Murwillumbah
2015 Murwillumbah Art Trail Prospero Street Pop – up
2009 Soft Landing Murwillumbah Community Printmakers Gallery
2008 The Door Snake Project Platform Artist Group. Degraves St Subway,
Melbourne.
2006 Nicholas: The life of a Building, Blindside Artist Run Space,
Nicolas Buiding, Melbourne
2005 Inaugral exhibition Pigment Gallery, Nicholas Building, Melbourne
2001 Graduate Exhibition, Victorian College of the Arts, Southbank
2001 Wallara Travelling Scholarship, Finalists exhibition.
V.C.A. Gallery, Southbank
2001 Sources and Resources V.C.A. Student Gallery, Southbank
2000 For real, V.C.A Student Gallery, Southbank.
1999 Fringe Festival Architecture Launch, “City Consumptions Pty Ltd
Preformance/Installation. North Melbourne Town Hall,
North Melbourne.
1999 Site Specific, “80” Installation, Langridge Street Collingwood.
1997 “Matters”, Solo Painting show at ‘Gluttony’.Collingwood.
Awards
2017 Finalist 30 x 30 Art Prize. Art Piece Gallery
2015 Finalist Border Art Prize. Tweed Regional Gallery
2013 Highly Commended, Border Art Prize
2001 Stella Dilger Award. V.C.A.
2001 Finalist Wallara Travelling Scholarship
2000 Special Mention, “Victorian Campus Art Prize”
