Interviews & Articles

One cannot help but smile at the paintings of Jon Ching. Saturated with colour and often imbued with tenderness, they convey sometimes improbable relationships between flora and fauna. At the core of Ching’s work, though, is a celebration of nature and a quiet, sometimes sly appeal for humans to appreciate the world around them.

Jon Ching’s debut Australian solo exhibition, Phase, will be displayed at the Beinart Gallery from August 8 to August 30. This show started as a contemplation of life on Earth after the impact of humans has ended, but the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic shifted the focus of this series to one more oriented toward transitions in our human life.

Scott Listfield’s paintings depict a lone astronaut exploring surreal landscapes, often evocative of apocalyptic science fiction stories. Protected from the elements, as well as from identification, the figure seems alienated in a world populated with recognisable corporate logos, pop icons, and man-made structures, often dominated by natural elements.

For those interested in dark art and horror, the art and creativity of Chet Zar has no doubt entered their minds. A multi-disciplined artist, Zar’s work spans decades and has stayed true to the original inspirations that prompted him to make art. After spending many years working in Hollywood as a special effects artist on such notable movies as Darkman, Hellboy, Planet of the Apes, and multiple Tool videos, Zar decided to take his skills in the direction of fine art, and since then established himself as a master in contemporary art and a growing movement of dark artists around the world. He has curated multiple group shows, and is the founder of the Dark Art Society and host of a long running podcast that focuses on a scene he as inspired in so many ways.

Making terrific work is one thing. Getting it out into the world where people can see, enjoy and possibly buy it is quite another. Regardless of personality or confidence level, many artists find this particular aspect of building a fine art career daunting, frustrating and downright mystifying.

After over 25 years in the arts, as a gallerist, consultant, author and educator, I can tell you sincerely and with confidence, my number one piece of advice is to KEEP AT IT! Make great work, make better work, make time to not just create your work but also work on your career. If you’re committed and proactive and keep on knocking, opportunity will eventually answer its door! It may not look exactly like what you expected. But I believe you will find your audience and your way. And while you’re keeping at it, I can offer you some tips that will hopefully help you navigate, and streamline, the process.

The sculptures of QimmyShimmy are playful juxtapositions of the ordinary with the extraordinary: the delightful (or at least neutral) with the provocative. From a “candy” dispenser that offers babies’ heads to a rice steamer holding human hearts, her work asks us to consider what we find appealing and how divorcing parts of our body from our body as a whole can impact how we see each other as fellow human beings.

For most artists, having a solid social media presence is an integral part of their promotional efforts. It’s a great way to grow a fanbase, interact with those fans, and even build up some connections with collectors. There’ve been quite a few artists who have quit their day jobs and been able to make art full-time due to the opportunities social media presented. However, no matter how many great things can be said about social media, it’s not free from issues: ever-changing algorithms, work being shared without credit, and, the one that concerns me the most, being reliant on a service that ultimately answers to their investors as opposed to their users.

Gerard Geer’s delicate sculptures capture his vivid imaginings of fantastical creatures literally down to the bone. By using a variety of animal bones and other natural materials, Geer creates the stuff of mythology while simultaneously giving his viewers an appreciation for the wonder and intricacies of the world we know. Geer’s latest series, Tidepool, explores a potential connection between land mammals and ocean creatures, in terms of both evolutionary features and the relationships among the creatures themselves. Tidepool just wrapped as Geer’s third solo show at the Beinart Gallery.

Breathe is the beautifully moving solo exhibition from Hieu Nguyen AKA kelogsloops at Beinart Gallery this May. There is no contained emotion, no holding back. Hieu introduces his figures with an energy that encapsulates the low hum you hear if you listen carefully enough. This low hum is not a foreign presence for Hieu, he embraces and seeks it in all his travels; in the music he hears, in the people he meets. If he could literally embrace the world he would, but because of that impossibility he finds a way to manifest that vision into his phenomenal creations.

Go out to the garden, sneak under the ivy and listen ever so quietly for the whispers of echoes. Fear not these little creatures, for they have untold gifts within and timeless secrets drawing you into their world, a world that Nicole Watt aka Mahlimae connected to when she was very young. These tiny beings whispered for her to bring them to life and now we can all share in their exquisite presence.

The lyrical paintings of Jana Brike are evocative mood pieces. Her paintings feature young, usually female characters in natural environments; with their strong symbolism and elements of mythology and fairy tales, these works invite the viewer into the action as the characters interact with the world around them or experience intimacy with another—or sometimes with themselves.