My work ‘Light and shadow (Huangshan)’ 136x183cm has been selected as a finalist in the inaugural ACAR Art Prize. The ACAR Prize is “designed to honour artistic excellence and to recognize artists who are outstanding advocates for Australia-China cultural exchange”. The Prize runs from 18 April – 1 August 2026 at the ACAR Gallery St Leonards, Sydney
My artist statement: The artwork ‘Light and shadow (Huangshan)’ was inspired by several artist residencies in Hong Kong and China. In 2014 and 2015 I travelled to Huangshan and Zhangjiajie courtesy of the Nock Art Foundation. I painted plein air in those famous landscapes, so strongly defined by the Chinese brush painting tradition. I continued with work inspired by Chinese landscape in Hong Kong studio residencies and then on and off over subsequent years in my Blue Mountains studio.
My interest in the Chinese brush painting tradition goes back to 1996; my MFA (research Masters) attempted to place my artist practice as a synthesis of a western expressionist and abstract expressionist tradition with an alternate way of working that emphasised stillness, emptiness and a meditative approach. This approach aligned with the philosophy of Chinese brush painting and has been an ongoing interest of mine ever since.
