SMAC Studio invites you to Ian Burgess’ upcoming exhibition | 9-11 Dec
The ever-so-popular SMAC Studio in Newcastle’s Tighes Hill does it once more with the announcement to host the upcoming debut exhibition by Ian Burgess, Joy of Colour.
Originally from the United Kingdom, this self-taught artist arrived on our Aussie shores in 2009 and has only been a part of the creative scene, successfully curating his collection of works and evolving his unique style, since discovering this hidden talent over recent years.
“I have always had a creative side, having played the drums in a band when I was younger, and been interested in photography, but I’ve been in the carpet trade most of my life. It has only been the last five years I’ve been involved with painting,” Ian said.
The now 71-year-old, whose personality and enthusiasm for life reflects that of a 50-year-old, now calls Lake Macquarie’s Warners Bay home and is found, more often than not, losing hours on end painting away in his studio. But, where did this creative inspiration come from?
“My wife Marian and I have always enjoyed going to art galleries, and we visited the Art Gallery of NSW in Sydney when I saw this painting, a painting by Sir Russell Drysdale called Sofala, and it just resonated with me and I wanted to learn how to paint.”
Initially, Ian’s work reflected surrealist landscapes featuring barns, rolling hills, and abundant colour. In this short period of time, Ian’s style has evolved from those surrealist landscapes into much more abstract works with one element always staying strong: colour.
“When I paint, I just love colours. My barns were getting too repetitive, so I started dabbling in abstract.”
The upcoming exhibition, Joy Of Colour, brings together a selection of his original styled surrealist paintings with a huge focus on his more modern abstract works. Having decided to host his debut exhibition at SMAC Studio this December, we hear from Ian on exactly what visitors can expect…
“My first solo exhibition is ‘The Joy of Colour’ where I endeavour to ‘open the door’ to the intuitive nature of my work as I continue my quest for beautiful expressive colour relationships and tonal values contained within my need to experience this joy, which is often revealed in strongly saturated hues with a sprinkling of ‘magical experimentation’ in abstraction.”
This joy is revealed in all of his paintings as Ian weaves shapes and colours on canvas with layers of paint and textural gestures to produce a visual feast, one which Ian encourages people to interact with and touch throughout the exhibition.
“My working method is of continuous building up and weaving layers of translucent and opaque colours combined with textural gestures and shapes that satisfy my intention to produce a piece with movement and energy.”
The name of the exhibition, Joy Of Colour, is a nod to Ian’s recent feature in Australia and New Zealand’s leading art and interior design magazine, Art Edit, and is the perfect description of not only his style of work but his connection to colour.
“In most of my paintings, the initial random appearance belies the fact that I work slowly as I like to consider and construct my vision, attempting to introduce some elemental power that is over and above the mere application of paint.”
The opening night of Joy Of Colour will see SMAC Studio come to life on the 9th of December from TIME.
“It will be a very light, fun, and lovely summer evening with food, wine, music, and of course, art.”
If you can’t make it along to the opening night, Joy of Colour will be available for viewing over the weekend from 11am-3pm, 10th and 11th of December or browse his works online here.
Joy of Colour by Ian Burgess Opening Night
Where: SMAC Studio | Unit 5/73A Elizabeth St, Tighes Hill
When: 9 Dec | 6pm-9pm
