These six artists with different outlooks, methods, training and life experiences have put together a small group art show for the enjoyment of the visitors to the SETE 2008 Conference.
Their artworks express the new reality of Australian art practice; namely the exploration of the edges and cross currents of many different cultures that map out a new hybrid Australian aesthetic .
Something for everyone? We hope so...and these artists welcome questions and debate about their work and ideas. The vitality in this Art comes from the intense creativity and sincere application of an evolving imagination. The artist hopes to captivate their viewers attention and stimulate discussion with very much the same spirit which the visitor to SETE brings to this event and hopefully the visitors will find a new inspiration to take with them as they return home.
Brett Bailey, Keith Lane, Peter Bitmead, Matin Dingli, Peter Mclean & Jeffree Skewes
Brett Bailey studied in Chelsea School of Art and has taught painting and alternative technology at arts schools, universities and The Architectural Association in London.
Brett's artworks explore the physical nature of artmaking and the existing possibilies of harnessing these properties and forces to create art.
He maintains that this is a technique approximating Asian aesthetic practice and that the Australian landscape, relatively new to western eyes - yet the oldest landscape on earth, is a landscape of spirit and power. This is his subject matter and rational for making art.
Since 1986 Brett has held 15 solo exhibitions and participated in 30 group shows.
Keith Lane creates images of the iconic t-shirt writ large with Chinese characters and images. Lane uses the colours that reflect the Chinese porcelain made popular by the famed English Willow pattern.
Lane's paintings particularly resonate this year with the world's eye on the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
In 2008 was selected to exhibit in the Sulman Prize at the Art Gallery of NSW. In 2005 he won the Macarthur Art Award and in 2007 he was commissioned to create fifteen banners by the Campbelltown City Council. His work is represented in private collections and the Shanghai Government, China and the Campbelltown Arts Centre.
Peter Bitmead began exhibiting in the late 70’s and is a full-time professional artist with over 4,000 works in 16 countries. He is represented in major private, public and corporate collections. He has resisted the trend to produce work in one specific medium and his subject matter is drawn from his personal background, observations and travels. He works in large series spanning years on subjects including history and nature, art, sex and war. He has been exhibited in major public art galleries in Australia and abroad and was invited by the Turkish Government to exhibit at Cannakale for the 90thCelebration of the Gallipoli landing.
Martin Dingli was born in Malta in 1960. Martin has been exploring and pushing the boundaries of digital art for 15 years. His work reflects his global experience and his passion for colour and abstraction.
His works range through subjects from landscape and figures to psychedelia and fantasy. Martin's art is eclectic and includes landscapes, abstract, figures, fantasy . His Maltese heritage is the binding element. His work pushes the boundaries of the latest digital art techniques. In particular, Martin has developed styles, which capture the textures and impacts of oils, stained glass and watercolours.
More details: www.flickriver.com/photos/dinglidigital/popular-interesting/
Peter is practising printmaker and artist formally from Glen Innes, NSW. Peter specializes in screen printing and also creates artworks with mixed media such as painting , ceramics and painting. He has been practising professionally since 1999.
Peter uses digital technologies to design images and has been experimenting with onsite printmaking equipment at the locations he makes his art.
Conveniently Peter has a small scale specialist framing business which offers custom framing and uses archival materials.
In 2008 he won the M16 Drawing prize awarded by Mr Michael Desmond senior curator at the National Portrait Gallery Canberra.
Jeffree Skewes has been a practicing artist for more than twenty years.
He is also the director of studioMAP, a successful art teaching facility for children and teenagers. His own art work reveals an interest in the hidden and transitory realms of space and time.
The work on show here is a development from Jeffree’s recent research into relativistic and hyperspaces. This has special significance today as other spaces such as cyberspace, holograms and spiritual terrain unfolds our sense of universal space. Skewes uses materials that lend themselves to the telling of these mysterious voyages.
More details: www.jeffreeskewes.com