t.IAN CUNNINGHAM
Ian's Profile
Artist's Statement:
I try to use abstract and colorful scenery as motifs to describe the idea of imaginary reality. My main subjects are fantasy or surreal images which ask the viewer to reconsider the norm, to step outside the known and take a walk in a parallel universe, mostly with a childishly simple sense of humour.
I prefer to work in watercolor or gouache, occasionally acrylics, because of the immediacy and fluidity of the medium and the color palette which accurately reflects the images I want to explore.
My secondary area of interest is portraiture where my aim is to capture the force of personality. To this end, I use as few colours as possible and redact all extraneous details.
When people see my work, I’d like them to feel momentarily dissociated with reality as they explore an ideal or fantastic world.
Bio:
A Queenslander by birth, Ian has lived mostly in Victoria, completing his education there, then undertaking a few years of secondary teaching before joining the RAN in 1979. He retired in 1996 and, with his dream babe/wife, Chris, ran a band rehearsal complex in Moorabbin, and retired again in 2006.
Along the way, Ian became an avid collector of classic motorcycles, written a history book, composed poetry and was a founder member of the infamous 1970s punk band, “The Chosen Few”.
Ian has always been connected with some form of art, ranging from air-brushing motor cycle helmets, wall paintings to order, record album covers, portraiture, poster design, t-shirt imagery, etc.
These days, Ian works in three main areas: portraiture, fantasy/surreal alternate realities and digitally enhanced life studies.
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