Artist and Mentor: Rick Whateley, Andrew Goodman
Photograph: Christine Sayer
Location: Old Fire Station, View Street
Why did you decide to take part in Next On Now?
It was a good opportunity to collaborate with other local artists, meet like-minded people and explore new directions and opportunities.
What has it been like working alongside other artists in Bendigo with guidance from a mentor?
The mentor aspect has been great- I feel I have gained a lot from working with Andrew (Goodman); not only in terms of technical aspects, he has a very philosophical approach to his work and art in general…. He has a very informed approach, and it’s insightful to hear his ideas.
What has been the inspiration behind your work?
Life. I don’t have the attention span to spend weeks on a drawing or a painting or a print, I envy people that can, I really do. So I work sporadically and suddenly and what comes out comes out, and tends to reflect what the current scenario might be, life-wise. Call it catharsis? It’s more a necessary process than a studious one, as clichéd as it sounds.
Have you been experimenting with new art forms and/or techniques for your work?
This is the first time I’ve explored using sound. It’s actually been really fun, wandering around the house recording random noises in the dead of night. It’s funny how many cool sounds exist in a latent kitchen cupboard. I’d also like to thank my dog Paco for contributing some nice growls and whatnot. I’ll have to credit him. Also the first time I’ve played with a projector. The projector gives a fair degree of freedom; the images projected will variously be cyanotype prints, collage work and illustrations…..so you can fit a few mediums in…..
Describe your work in 5 words.
The exhibition work?- ‘It’s about your inner stairwell’? …..If you mean in generally, then ‘made nocturnally in my bedroom’.
Who and/or what inspires you?
Shit, where do I start?--- In no particular order --- My Dad, My Mum (R.I.P), my beloved one Zora, refugees, Brett Whiteley, Andy Howell, Bob Brown, Sean Penn, tight-knit families, my amazing friends, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Ryan McGinley, Marcus Salvagno, Swoon, Bile, Puzle, Iree, Revok, Rencs, Prek1, Audrey Kawasaki, Hetha Tew, the weather, Sian Haldane, Josh McKenzie, my fellow Punctum peoples, Neil Cole, the outdoors, the ocean, Leonard Cohen, Luciano Prisco, Talib Kweli, Dead Prez, people that think outside the box, good lecturers at Uni, antique cameras, people that talk to strangers on public transport.
Where do you hope to be in 5-10 years time?
That’s pretty unpredictable! I’m studying Politics and Sociology, so I have a long term view to work with the United Nations or in the Human Rights arena in some capacity. I’ll hopefully still have some freelance art going on the side to keep me sane, I think I’ll need it. But that kind of career will lend itself well to photojournalistic studies, my preferred area of photography, so hopefully they marry well. Thank you Punctum for supporting us all by the way, it’s been a great experience.
