INTRANSIT 2025 

JANUARY

​It is 2025. I am not really sure how that happened as I was not concentrating too much on the movement of our planet around the sun which I am told takes 365 days and six hours to do a single lap. A friend tells me that in Thailand it is the year 2568 as they use the Thai solar calendar which began when the Buddha died and entered into the state of parinirvana back in the good old days before the Gregorian calendar began. Meanwhile on the planet Neptune a single year is over 60,000 days long and each season last 40 years.  They probably dont celebrate New Years eve there with fancy functions, food and cocktails which is a pity as that can be loads of fun… but I drift off the path a bit … So what am I doing and where am I doing it in 2025?
I have been added to the list of artist exhibiting in the 2025 Collie Art Prize in W.A. My mixed media work - WAYS TO IDENTITY dipicts a fluffy multi directional sign/tree on a background of chaotic green textures. Roots hold the signpost in place but there are no words or symbols anywhere on the sign to lead us anyplace, we are left to wonder. Identity seems topical these days in many lands and in many cultural spheres as we humans continue to try and sort out who or what we are as well as why and where. Good luck with that I say. We must also discover if we have enough organic or artificial intelligence to survive a bit longer in order to find answers to all those large tricky questions.
Identity I believe is constructed by an array of elements. It can be fluid but is basically formed at an early age by mixing family, beliefs, geography, appearance, language, customs, education, situations and a few more ingredients in a strange organic blender also called a brain. WAYS TO IDENTITY ambiguously acknowledges the richly flavoured smorgasbord of influences which all create our sense of self. I present a multi-directional sign rooted in a primary location but suggesting many ways to go, many things to see and much to consider in order to be the best you.

WAYS TO IDENTITY.
​156 cm H.   x. 88 cm. W.  Acrylic thread, cotton thread, acrylic paint  on Belgian linen.

I often observe the regeneration of Australian bush after bushfires which I find fascinating. Eucalyptus trees sprout, ferns pop up and grass trees spurt growth all rapidly from intense heat, black ash and debris of random or intended fires. Bushfire season is here in this part of the world once again so we best consider being careful, staying cool and definitely don't get burnt as our flimsy bodies and homes are not very fireproof.
I must prepare for a number of exhibitions this year. That means I best get very studious in the studio and sort out assorted experiments, ideas, themes, shapes, textures, lines and compositions. Shows in Melbourne, Broome, Perth and Dwellingup are in the calendar and at the end of this year Carolina and I hope to travel northwards to South Asia which should happen but the adventure is still in the planning stages which means many pieces of the project must slot together before we can pack the bags. We profusely and irrationally pray to Ganesh, Baby jesus, Odin, Willy Wonka, Pacha Mama and any other gods that may help us on our way.