The unbearable intensity of today’s society doesn’t leave much space to chance upon and reproduce something purely beautiful. Well, it seems that Andrew Taylor managed to do so, leaving out any cynicism. His work speaks about transient and short moments, embodied through his gentle floral motifs.
Andrew Taylor was born in Melbourne, Australia. He got his BFA at the Victorian College of the Arts, in 1987. During his artistic ripening, this painter and printmaker developed a strong fascination with Redon’s dreamlike world, Kiefer’s flora, and enigmatic Sigmar Polke. A dark touch of the Lynch-like world just adds a certain weight to his pieces, without disturbing his enthusiasm about things accessible in a new millennium.
Taylor’s art seems to remind us of our ephemeral existence and the beauty of it, by depicting images of nature – alluring but also fragile and short-winded at the same time. One can’t but admire this artist’s invested energy and his persistence in taking a break and simply reflecting – something that is completely opposite to a modern word reputation – hectic and hyperventilating with speed. Andrew keeps defending his art for not being intellectual – he rather defines it as deeply personal, coming from his heart, where only emotions rule. Even though his artistry originates from such intimate place, surely affected by different injustices of our world, Taylor insists that it has nothing to do with angst and its unbearable anguish of life.
Taylor’s mothering of hope to overcome any situation feeds on a constant struggle with a burden of everyday life. That struggle is visible in his effort to encourage and cheer himself and the people who get the chance to meet his artworks – as he continues to paint the moment that is gone forever but somehow preserved in his canvas. Nice way to trick a transience of life, right? Ars longa, vita brevis – in all its glory!
Andrew’s passion for Asian art practice is very much present in his work, from the technique of printmaking and woodblock to its way of looking at things. No wonder he draws inspiration from that source- having in mind, for example, Chinese commitment to contemplation. Mastering a search for beauty and strength all around him, this painter has found a way to walk that high-wire between figurative and abstract composition, creating a color language of his own that both sides seem to understand. His vibrant pieces defy this digitalized and alienated society, refusing to give up in front of this globalized age, falsely commoditized.
This artist is represented by The Cat Street Gallery.
Artwork images copyright © artist
Andrew Taylor’s profile image copyright © Natty Solo
Year | Exhibition Title | Gallery/Museum | Solo/Group |
---|---|---|---|
2014 | NSW | Olsen Irwin Gallery Sydney | Solo |
2013 | Sheng Wan, Hong Kong | Cat Street Gallery | Solo |
2012 | Outside: Periphery | Heather James Gallery, Palm Dessert | Solo |
2012 | Outside: From the Pephery | Tim Olsen, Sydney | Solo |
2011 | Platform LA, part of the Pacific Standard Time | Initiative Los Angeles | Solo |
2011 | Outside: Far Away | Rebecca Hossack Gallery, New York | Solo |
2010 | Sheung Wan, Hong Kong | The Cat Street Gallery | Solo |
2010 | Fresh | MOCA Los Angeles, CA USA | Group |
2010 | Beauty and the Baroque | W Hotel commission Washington DC, Curated by Chip Tom | Group |
2010 | Landscapes | Heather James Fine Art, Palm Springs, CA | Group |
2008 | Sydney NSW | Tim Olsen Gallery, Sydney | Solo |
2008 | Nature Morte Dead Nature | Rohrer Fine Art Laguna Beach, CA USA | Group |
2007 | Sydney NSW | Tim Olsen Gallery, Sydney | Solo |
2005 | New paintings | Crossley Scott Gallery | Solo |
2004 | New paintings | Crossley Scott Gallery | Solo |
2002 | Recent Work | MHA Projects Los Angeles | Solo |
2000 | Recent Paintings | Metropolis Gallery, St. Kilda | Solo |
2000 | Dobel Drawing Prize' (finalist) | National Gallery of New South Wales | Group |
1999 | Works in Windows | The St. Kilda Festival | Group |
1999 | Artist for kids Cultural Trust Auction | George Gallery, St. Kilda | Group |
1999 | Exposure (Artists portraits of Artists) | Victoria University Gallery, Melbourne and at Linden Gallery, St. Kilda | Group |
1996 | Monotypes and works on paper | Scope Gallery, Fitzroy | Solo |
1996 | Love | Carlisle Lounge Motel, St. Kilda | Group |
1995 | Recent Paintings | Scope Gallery, Fitzroy | Solo |
1995 | 12th Biannual Spring Festival of Drawings (Invitation) | Mornington Peninsula Gallery, Mornington | Group |
1995 | Christmas 1995 small works | Scope Gallery, Fitzroy | Group |
1994 | Monotypes | Australian Print Workshop, Fitzroy | Solo |
1994 | Workshop Proofs, A Survey of prints from the Archives | Australian Print Workshop, Doncaster Gallery, Doncaster | Group |
1993 | Monotypes from the Garner Toullis Workshop | Australian Print Workshop, Fitzroy | Group |
1992 | Recent Paintings | Pinacotheca, Richmond | Solo |
1991 | The Sub, Ver'sive Stitch | Mori Gallery, Leichharat NSW | Group |
1991 | Contemporary Paintings | Pinacotheca, Richmond | Group |
1990 | Diamonds are Forever | Botanical Gallery, South Yarra | Solo |
1990 | The Dominique Segan Castlemaine Drawing Prize | Castlemaine State Festival | Group |
1990 | Moet & Chandon Touring Exhibition | Various locations | Group |
1989 | New Painting | Garry Anderson Galleries, Darlinghurst, NSW | Solo |
1989 | The Scotchman's Hill Acquisition Art Award | Geelong Art Gallery, Geelong | Group |
1989 | Art from Elsewhere | The University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay Tasmania | Group |
1989 | The Murdoch Fellowship | School Gallery, Victoria College of the Arts, Melbourne | Group |
1989 | Australian Painting 1960 to 1989 | 312 Lennox Street Gallery, Richmond | Group |
1988 | New Painting | 312 Lennox Street Gallery, Richmond | Solo |
1988 | St. Kilda Now | Linden Gallery, St. Kilda | Group |
1987 | Graduate Show at School of Fine Art | Victoria College of the Arts, Melbourne | Group |
199 | Metropolis Opening Exhibition | Metropolis Gallery, St. Kilda | Group |