Finn Elkan
Sydney Distance Education High School
WATER IS EVERYWHERE, BEFORE IT'S SOMEWHERE.
Drawing
Acrylic, pencil, ink on paper
My body of work investigates a creek system that I have been visiting regularly for the past six years. Each time I visit I feel its changing rhythms and patterns. These layered memories inspired me to represent experiences beyond the physical: the joy taken in actively observing and exploring nature over time. My work integrates a mixed selection of techniques, including printmaking from collected plant specimens that surround this area, detailed pencil drawings, and layered acrylic paint and ink. My intention is for the audience to become immersed in both the details and unity of this special landscape.
My artmaking practice has been influenced by the study and interpretation of the following artists: John Wolseley, Joshua Yeldham, Ben Waters, Rene Sundown, Allery Sandy, Muna Kulyuru, Thom Muir, Britta Marakatt-Labba, Christopher Hodges, Makoto Aida, artists of the Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters exhibition.
Marker's Commentary
Reminiscent of the work of John Wolseley, this body of work explores the flora and ecosystems of the land. Layered printmaking with stencils made directly from nature, finely worked drawing, collected textures and mark making, along with soft coloured washes all expertly rendered to capture the majestic panoramic view of the creek. The large-scale work reads as a map of the immediate terrain, recalling the memories of site. Direct observations are recorded over time by the artist and renders themself and the audience as botanist in the field of enquiry and exploration.
Subtle and controlled application of paint and ink, evidenced in layers, coats the iconic bushland with a transparent, watery presence. This refined application of materials is expertly handled across the ambitious large-scale physicality of the composition. The sustained and sophisticated material and conceptual-landscape practice make for an engaging and highly resolved body of work.