Collection: Julian Clavijo - Back To Being

Back to Being is an exhibition of new paintings by Julian Clavijo. This series is an introspection on the interconnectedness between humans and all other living creatures, especially the current endangered species of animals and the imaginary ones that might evolve when we are no longer here.

Opening reception: Saturday, November 25th, 6 - 9pm. Drinks will be provided by our friends at Better Beer and Malocchio.

This exhibition will run from November 26th - December 17th and will coincide with Sarah Dolby's Lullabies In The Garden Of Calamity, Chris Leib's Night Vision and Zoë Rayne's Of Blood And Honey.

According to the U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity, as of 2023, up to 150 species become extinct every single day. That is as much as 10% of our whole biodiversity in a decade. The rapid loss of species we are seeing today is estimated by experts to be between 1,000 and 10,000 times higher than the natural extinction rate. This means that unlike the previous 5 mass extinction events of geological history, the current extinction challenge is one for which a single species—ours—appears to be almost wholly responsible, and at an incredibly rapid pace. What does this mean for the future of humanity and for the planet? As evidence shows, the planet regenerates and life thrives over and over again. New species are born and the ecosystem finds its balance through the immaculate laws of time. But what about humans? Why do we live in this social-consumerist, self-destructive system detached from what intrinsically keeps us alive?

An understanding that we don’t pass the planet to our children, but rather we borrow it from them, is at the core of this exhibition. Clavijo has created a series of portraits of children who heroically come forward to watch and protect what is intrinsically our own nature and come to call it their own. Back to Being is a body of work dedicated to our species; a hopeful stance of a generation, to reject the self-destructive way of living and embrace how all animals are our spirit and we are theirs: the extinct species that, because of us, are gone, the species that are still here, and the ones to come.

Julian Clavijo is an internationally renowned artist, born in Colombia, living and working in Melbourne since 2008. A painter and sculptor since a very early age, Julian is interested in urban space transformation and his work, from large public installations to intimate portraits, reflects a keen eye for colour, pattern and realism. Clavijo’s studio and mural practice is dedicated to capturing the quintessence of humanity by drawing inspiration from the empathetic qualities of childhood, such as boundless joy, unwavering curiosity and unspoiled innocence. Simultaneously, it delves into the pressing issues of conserving our planet, safeguarding the wonders of nature and preserving the existence of endangered species for both the present generation and the ones yet to come.

His peculiar quasi-photorealistic style is widely recognised for his detailed large oil painting portraits of children, engaging the viewer in an introspective, emotional and reflective manner depicting the innocence of his subject matter.