March Newsletter
Dearest Gentle Readers and Art Lovers,
I have a few new largish pieces to show you this month. I don’t always feel this way, and wouldn’t normally say so, but I must have been in the zone with these guys. The studio is a sty, but I I’m happy with what’s come from this period of creative focus.
Below you’ll find fresh new works: Kirin Azalea Bonsai, a midcentury modern take on the hooker banksia in Banksy of the Bush, and nature-takes-over in Reclaimed Tree Fern.
On a side note, I’ve been gathering records to assist in the formation of the Archives on the website. It aims to show works from all periods across the past 22 years of creating, chronicling the pathways, detours and evolutions of my art practice. There’s not a lot there yet of note, but I’ll be sure to let you know when it’s worth perusing. And if you happen to have one of my works from yesteryear that you’d like included, feel free to send me a pic and any details you recall.
I hope you enjoy the new works, and the rest of your weekend.
~ AK
‘Kirin Azalea Bonsai’ 90cm x 110cm, acrylic on canvas
Kirin Azalea Bonsai’ is part of my “Big Bonsai” series, where bonsai trees are painted larger than life.
The work is built in layered paint skins and acrylic. I use gravity, surface tension and paint additives to create organic textures that mimic the trunk and structure of a bonsai. In this way the painting uses the behaviour of materials to echo patterns found in nature.
The tree is inspired by the Kirin azalea, a Japanese variety that, when in bloom, seems to be swallowed by masses of pink and salmon coloured flowers. Each bloom has a delicate single layer of petals that forms a tube shape.
My interest in this variety has grown alongside a broader fascination with azaleas since working at the River Song property. I recently sourced a few Kirin azaleas for my own garden, with the hope of eventually training one as a living bonsai.
It was interesting to discover that azaleas and rhododendrons are closely related, something that becomes clear when you look closely at their flowers (even though rhododendrons are clustered).
‘Reclaimed Tree Fern’ 100cm x 75cm, acrylic on canvas
‘Reclaimed Tree Fern’ was inspired by the cyclic nature of Nature, and more specifically by the verdant areas of the Upper Yarra property. It’s a mega-layered piece that started out being composed of much more garden and depth, but what emerged was mostly this lone monolithic tree fern that in itself has seen better days, but the stag-horn and monstera are thriving on it’s structure. It has also become a beckon for mosses and fungi to complete the stand-alone ecosystem.
I’m interested in the way nature operates - how it reclaims what stands still. It’s reminiscent of underwater works such as ‘Oh Buoy’ and ‘Old Jetty Reclaimed’ where life/nature took root.
‘Banksy of the Bush’ 96cm x 56cm, acrylic on canvas
‘Banksy of the Bush’ the name is a nod to the infamous street artist, but where the bush/nature is the artist ;). It looks closely at a banksia cone, enlarging it until it becomes almost monumental. Seen at this scale, the familiar form begins to feel slightly alien, even cosmic, revealing intricate patterns and textures that are often overlooked. Banksias are strongly associated with regeneration and renewal, themes that quietly run through the painting. Like many natural systems, the image sits between order and chaos, where structure emerges from complex organic processes. The painting balances careful observation with expressive abstraction, allowing the movement and behaviour of paint to echo the rhythms of nature.
Both canvas and frame have been lovingly handcrafted. It’s a unique midcentury modern aesthetic that matches nicely to colours of Australia.