TRAVERSING THE MONARO

‘TRAVERSING THE MONARO’ by Zak Tilley
20 – 30 March 2019

EXHIBITION LAUNCH
Wednesday 20th March, 6-8pm

This March, Saint Cloche presents TRAVERSING THE MONARO – a solo show for exciting emerging artist, Zak Tilley.


Zak is an emerging Sydney based artist concerned with the natural environment, in particular Australian native flora, fauna and landscapes. This current body of work has been inspired by the journey from Narooma, north of the Bega Valley, to the Snowy Mountains – a trip that has become a frequent and favourite one of the artist. The diversity of landscape that sprawls along the mere 120km of space, from the coast to the peaks, reveals an inspiring muse.

Zak’s works are decidedly Australian in feel, and fresh in implementation, projecting a very personal view of the landscape from someone who knows the ground intimately. His works are gestural and full of movement and energy, with a confident mark making style that is distinctively his own.

“Leaving the fruitful valleys of Bega brings a sharp ascent up the s-bends of a subtropical Browns Mountain, reaching the beginnings of the Monaro plateau. Moving through dry eucalypt forests opens up to an endless clearing for agriculture. A beautifully bleak outlook onto the undulating bare hills, land fallow for sheep farming. Dry, in a rain shadow of the mountains, and deprived from the wet westerlies. Through ghostly towns we drove slowly, a closed antique store and abandoned cinema, their glory days now passed. Frantic soils are heavily leached and infertile, leaving lorn boulders to specify the ancient highlands and for the road to weave through. A left turn shortcut onto the dirt Springfield track, follows the rolls of the hills and shallow valleys to the invisible horizon. Eventually we are met with the rise of rugged peaks, a fort to the Australian Alps. Through Snowgums woodlands, a peak of an inland sea opens up to vista of snowcaps and wonder. Through my paintings, I explore the journey of isolation and diversity of the ancient Australian landscape, from coast to peaks, through the Monaro.”

Graduating from The College of Fine Arts, UNSW (now UNSW Art & Design) in 2014 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Zak majored in Drawing & Painting but mostly producing mixed media painting, dying, embroidery textiles, sculpture and ceramics. Zak is currently completing his Master of Teaching (Secondary) whilst also working as a Disability Support Worker/Social Educator at a Disability NGO. Working in the Social and Community Services heavily influences Zak’s practice and creative philosophies, facilitating creative workshops in disability day program hubs, and in remote Aboriginal Communities in the Northern Territory.

CATALOGUE

Click to view Catalogue & Price List (2 Mb PDF)

For more information, please contact: info[at]saintcloche.com