Damien Minton Gallery

SHARP/BLUNT

Artist Statement

“The working harbour and industrial areas surrounding Newcastle’s historic coastline have been fundamental influences towards my painting practice. A body of work usually begins by drawing or painting at sites such as Kooragang Island, Stockton, Nobbys Lighthouse and Southern Merewether. The act of gathering visual information has enabled me to develop a formal language of shape and colour. Whether it is the jagged coal pyramids dumped by the loaders, the arch of a container ships oxidised hull as it is escorted by tugs into harbour or the enamel grunge of corroded concrete and decaying architecture. The ambiguity of these isolated forms prompts one to consider their intent. Totemic in structure they stand as placards for the synthetic and constructed.

“There is no doubt landscape painting has been a historically contested subject however it is the engagement of landscape with an Australian art historical context that has informed my art practice as a self – guided form of expression and research. For me the subject of landscape finds itself in a quandary, floating rather uncomfortably upon a precarious horizon – one that ignites both moral and ethical concerns about the land we have come to live in today. It is the incongruous nature of an Australian art historical context, enmeshed with the formal language drawn from the industrial that has been my primary area of inquiry.”

– Liam Power

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

In 2009 Liam Power was awarded the inaugural Ford Grant, which was generously sponsored by Chris and Helen Ford to assist in the development of a body of work for exhibition at the Newcastle Art School and Damien Minton Gallery in Sydney. After completing the Fine Arts course at Newcastle Art School in 2009, Power went on to finish his Bachelor of Fine Art at the University of Newcastle 2010, also presenting his first major solo show at the Damien Minton gallery. He completed his Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours) in 2011, attaining the award of Class 1 Honours. Following this Power was selected to participate in the National Graduate show held at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art (PICA) in 2012. This experience led Power into his next painting project at the Lock – up Cultural Centre, with the exhibition Land Bulk 2013. A total of ten works from this exhibition were purchased for the Newcastle Art Gallery’s permanent collection.

Power has exhibited regularly in both solo and group projects within the Hunter Region, Sydney and Perth. As a young artist, Power has already been acquired by a number of major art collections including Newcastle Art Gallery (total of 17 works), Macquarie Bank, Hunter Valley Private Hospital and the University of Newcastle. Power continues to be a strong exhibitor, due to participate in Novacastria 2014 at the Newcastle Art Gallery early May.

Power is currently undertaking a mature age apprenticeship in butchery which creates an interesting intersection with his painting.

Education
2011 Bachelor of Fine Art Honours, University of Newcastle, Callaghan (class 1 honours)2010 Bachelor of Fine Art, University of Newcastle, Callaghan 2009Advanced Diploma of Fine Art, Hunter St TAFE Collage, Newcastle2008 Diploma of Fine Art, Hunter St TAFE Collage, Newcastle

Solo exhibitions
2014 Sharp/Blunt, Damien Minton Gallery, Sydney 2013Land Bulk, The Lock Up Cultural Centre, Newcastle2011Bulkhead, Damien Minton Gallery, Sydney2010Rhombohedron, Damien Minton Gallery, Sydney Rhombohedron, Front Room Gallery, Newcastle

Group exhibitions

2014 Novacastria, Newcastle Art Gallery 2013Pod Space at the Lighthouse, Nobbys’ Lighthouse, Newcastle2012Friends Collectors Choice, University of Newcastle Gallery, CallaghanHatched, National Graduate Show, PICA, Perth2011New Acquisitions 2009 – 2011, Newcastle Art GalleryBulkhead, Honours Graduate exhibition, University of Newcastle Gallery, CallaghanBlack – A Coal Case, Cessnock Regional Art GalleryIn and out, Damien Minton Gallery, Sydney10 Years ago, Damien Minton Gallery at the Newcastle Art Space2010Looking Forward, Bachelor of Fine Art Graduate Exhibition, Watt Space, NewcastleStand and Deliver, Watt Space, Newcastle2009Advanced Diploma, Front Room Gallery, Hunter St TAFE Collage, Newcastle

Prizes entered

2012 Dr Harold Schenberg Art Prize, PICA, Perth 2010Newcastle Emerging Artist Prize, NAS, Newcastle2009Down to Earth, Young artist award, Cessnock Regional Art GalleryGosford Art Prize, Gosford Regional Art GalleryReg Russom Memorial Art Prize, Hunter St TAFE Collage, Newcastle (achievement award)2008Carol Duval Memorial Scholarship, Hunter St TAFE Collage, Newcastle (finalist)Maritime Prize, Front Room Gallery, Newcastle (winner)

Publications

2013 Alumni Journeys, The University of Newcastle, p.22 Artemis, Newcastle Art Gallery Society Magazine, p.15Newcastle Herald, Power of the painting, Jill Stowell, p.342012Hatched National Graduate Show Catalogue p. 332011Artemis, Newcastle Art Gallery Society Magazine, p.192010Australian Art Collector

Collections
University of Newcastle
Macquarie Bank
Newcastle Art Gallery
Mater Hospital, Newcastle
Private collections within Australia