“The pieces in Trial & Error, Error carry motifs from my life, and every mark has its own meaning or double meaning. Poorly drawn Wu-Tang logos represent high school friends and music. I was always constantly scribbling the bird-like W in schoolbooks, trying to perfect the lines and somehow belong. The Rolex watch pays homage to musicians I loved and references conversations between friends about the future. The Mercedes-Benz logo reflects the classic cars my mother and late father drove.

Working from my home studio in the Northern Rivers, I use acrylic paint, acrylic markers, oil sticks, oil paint, spray paint, graphite, and airbrushes to compose these works. First, I hung large sections of un-primed canvas, then stained them with a diluted spray gun before making the marks. I began with graphite, followed by bolder tones and colours, layering until a visual symphony had formed but stopping before it became a cacophony. I’ve overcooked many works which I ended up withholding from the exhibition. 

Knowing when to stop is one of the biggest struggles I have with a piece. I wanted to allow myself to create rougher and ‘free-er’ works that to some may seem like there’s been little to no care, and these works are looser and heading in a direction I’m loving.”

– Saxon Quinn