- press release
- ric spencer, exploring the psychology of the found object the west australian, 15 august 2008
Philip Ward-Dickson’s recent work is an exciting new direction for this local artist.
He has moved from realistic representation - who could forget the exquisite memento mori paintings from the 1990s - to larger scale abstractions of single objects. This new series of works reveals an infatuation with the humble West Australian Banksia leaf, and there is still a strong connection with his previous paintings.
He stated, “some of the paintings can be perceived as memento mori for the missing Banksia and Eucalypt forests cleared during the construction of this city and the associated sprawling suburbia. Negative space and the simple pulsation of object on background allowed the suggestion of not only what is there but what was there. What is missing is made all the more evident every time I walk through the remaining remnant Tuart and Banksia forests of Bold Park and see glimpses of the distant city towers, ominous reminders that this is merely a token forest.”
These exquisite paintings have a luminous surface created by applying semi-translucent layers of paint, each layer revealing evidence of the layer beneath. The Banksia leaf shapes float in oceans of vibrant fields of dappled colour, inspired by the light, textures and colours of Australia. Philip has created a unique method of representing our flora, removing them from the ‘traditional vase on the table’ and imbibing them with a spirit and symbolism that is very West Australian.
Philip’s paintings can be found in the collections of the Art Gallery of Western Australia, the Holmes á Court Collection, Royal Perth Hospital Art Collection, and the City of Wanneroo.
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- TURNER GALLERIES | showcasing contemporary art
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