The energy and life of our urban areas, in Geelong, Melbourne, globally and more inform Wayne Elliott’s series of paintings for URBAN. Moments, stories and sentimental memories that have swirled through the subconscious, wanting to be realised on canvas explode with detail and colours. Accompanied in a joint exhibition by the clay sculptures of Ian Hodge, a newcomer to the Hive, and early career ceramicist. The surrounding natural environment provides inspiration for the ‘Colours of Nature’ series and the built form, with Brutalist architecture at its essence seen in the ‘Fortification’ series. It’s moods, density or isolation are all explored in ceramic form.
Wayne Elliott
These artworks have been created as I travelled to different urban areas around the world. Walking provides the vehicle to interact and immerse oneself in each urban arena. Absorbing like a sponge or flying like a bird one navigates the landscape. Making art establishes connections to culture, place, community, wellbeing, and what it is to be human. Never has this been more obvious than during the COVID-19 crisis which created isolation, uncertainty, and illuminated how much we rely on interaction and connection. The exploration and reflective practice is the springboard to express my own response. I use black and white sketches, photographs and research before I move to the canvas. Acting tactically on the ground, while thinking strategically from a ‘bird’s eye’ view above, I constantly switch between the multiplicity of perspectives. These multitude of perspectives I represent in my artworks and challenge the viewer to interpret the reality. The artwork is merely the final step of all that went before.
Ian Hodge
Melbourne based Ian is emerging as a committed ceramicist, who believes in experimentation in a search for a more creative expression of his abstract works.His preference is hand building slab vessels of various shapes and forms that become canvases on which he layers stained colour slips, inscribed markings, underglazes and glazes.
He looks to nature for inspiration. His love of texture and colour comes from all things natural and earthy, a stroll along the Lorne beachfront rocks and pools; the big River Red Gums of the Murray River in the area he grew up; or a dark stormy sky on a winter’s day. These are all inspirational ingredients to call on for his creative interpretation and expression.
Ian’s recent works are a commentary on the effects of over urbanization within our cities due to the rise of monolith residential constructions. He is inspired by the “Brutalist” period and captures a fortress like approach with few windows or openings to the outside world emphasizing increased isolation within these communities.
These works are shaped and moulded by hand with coils giving some pieces a surfacing effect like rammed earth constructions, then enhanced with minimal stains and glazing applications letting the shape tell the story with the glaze adding a glimmer of light to the subject.
The exhibition runs until May 25th with an Opening for all to enjoy on Saturday May 3rd at 2pm.
