Capturing and fragmenting light waves, Cosmic Soup generates alchemic distortions—textural fields of analogue noise that hover over diffused colour scapes, expanding the picture plane into a sculptural dimension. Light refracts, shifting spatial perception and attuning our senses to its fluid presence.

These photographic works emerge from an experimental process: painting onto sheets of glass, then soaking the resulting film in salt, vinegar, and other secret ingredients. Transparent photographic prints are layered over acrylic paintings, allowing luminous, distorted colour fields to seep through fragmented imagery.

Accompanied by large-format colour field paintings on canvas and a custom-made soundscape, Cosmic Soup offers an immersive voyage into the interplay of texture, light, and sonic resonance.

Join us at the opening reception on Wednesday, 9th April, to meet Daniel O’Toole and experience a special live sound performance by the artist.

“Photography has always accompanied my painting practice—the dark horse that rides quietly in the distance, perhaps leading the way. I find myself making photos that are like paintings and paintings that feel photographic. There’s an interesting dialogue between the two, and they help propel each other forward.

I’ve recently become obsessed with the film soup series, a process that balances unpredictable, chaotic elements with some level of control. A film soup involves soaking film in various chemicals and household ingredients to alter the image, introducing distortions and textures. Through trial and error, I’ve learned that less is more—simple combinations like boiling water with salt or a splash of vinegar yield the best results.

More recently, I’ve started working with semi-transparent sheets of acrylic, applying liquids, paint, milk, turmeric, or honey to create abstract surfaces that filter and refract light. It’s a kind of analogue Photoshop, adding a human touch and blurring the line between painting and photography even further. Throughout this process, I’ve embraced chance and impulse as an ethos, allowing colour and materiality to guide the works organically.”

Daniel O'Toole

Daniel O’Toole is a multidisciplinary artist based in Naarm (Melbourne), Australia. His practice spans painting, photography, video, sound, and installation, exploring the intersections between light, colour, and sensory perception. Influenced by the Los Angeles Light and Space movement of the 1960s, O’Toole’s work embraces imperfection, low-resolution recording, and kinetic distortion, creating immersive environments that reframe everyday visual phenomena.

Guided by personal experiences of synaesthesia, O’Toole seeks to connect colour and sound through layered compositions that challenge the ubiquity of digital screens. His work has been exhibited in major Australian galleries and international projects, with notable collaborations in music and moving image.

By incorporating experimental techniques—including refraction, film alteration, and textural layering—O’Toole slows down the viewing experience, inviting deeper engagement with the ephemeral qualities of light and perception.

Daniel O'Toole

Daniel O’Toole is a multidisciplinary artist based in Naarm (Melbourne), Australia. His practice spans painting, photography, video, sound, and installation, exploring the intersections between light, colour, and sensory perception. Influenced by the Los Angeles Light and Space movement of the 1960s, O’Toole’s work embraces imperfection, low-resolution recording, and kinetic distortion, creating immersive environments that reframe everyday visual phenomena.

Guided by personal experiences of synaesthesia, O’Toole seeks to connect colour and sound through layered compositions that challenge the ubiquity of digital screens. His work has been exhibited in major Australian galleries and international projects, with notable collaborations in music and moving image.

By incorporating experimental techniques—including refraction, film alteration, and textural layering—O’Toole slows down the viewing experience, inviting deeper engagement with the ephemeral qualities of light and perception.