SAM: The Drawing Wall Project

Artsworker Nicole Macdonald visited Michael in Shepparton on Day 3 of the project and said, “Michael has been fearlessly painting and drawing on the 12m long wall at Shepparton Art Museum.  When asked how he is finding the process of working on such a large scale, Michael replied ‘confronting at first, challenging, exciting – it opens up different possibilities.  I’ve got more room to play with negative space – I can put more in it and it’s got more room to breathe’.  Michael found that he could be more gestural and use bigger brushes.

LAUNCH: SAM Director Kirsten Paisley with artist Michael Camakaris in front of his artwork “Five Bulls. No Bull.”

LAUNCH: SAM Curator Elise Routledge with artist Michael Camakaris in front of his artwork “Five Bulls. No Bull.”

When asked what the biggest challenge had been, Michael’s responded by saying, “The toughest thing was the upscaling – because everything is times four”.  In comparison to his large scale sketch made as a reference specially for this project, the wall is at least four times bigger if not more.  It’s not surprising then that Michael felt “a little bit out of [his] comfort zone”.

Michael’s subject for this project is a series of abstracted bulls on a wash background.  When asked what the concepts and ideas behind the work were, he explained that he was aiming for “a contrast between beauty and bloodshed, peace and violence”.  The bulls created the perfect form for him to work from.

The Drawing Wall Project is a series of commissioned wall artworks that enliven the foyer space of the Eastbank Centre in Shepparton. Each commission is temporary and is installed for around three months. Four commissions by different artists occur each year and provide a strong visual signpost adjacent to SAM’s entrance and the opportunity to promote exhibitions that are happening within SAM’s spaces. Previous SAM Drawing Wall artists have included Justin Andrews, Ry Haskings, Richard Lewer, Viv Miller, Caroline Rothwell and Gosia Wlodarczak.

The artwork was completed Friday 3 May and the exhibition runs until 28 July in the Eastbank Centre Foyer. See below for more images as the artwork evolved.

Arts Project Australia thanks the Shepparton Art Museum for commissioning Michael Camakaris to work as part of its Drawing Wall series, and in particular wishes to thank Director Kirsten Paisley and Curator Elise Routledge for this opportunity.

Through the mode of abstraction, Camakaris’ work utilises bold outlines, dynamic contrasts and a rich colour palette, taking the viewer into alternate worlds where the subjects reside.

Camakaris employs a variety of media, ranging from gouache and acrylic paint, through to compressed charcoal and chinagraph.  The nature of his process means that Camakaris will often employ all these media in the one artwork, subtly creating a cohesive and integrated image. Camakaris resides in Melbourne and works from the Arts Project Australia studio in Northcote.

The public can visit SAM while the work is being created and speak to the artist about the project.
Shepparton Art Museum (SAM)

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