JOSH ROBBINS
BROTHERS & SISTERS
01.03.24 - 17.03.24
This body of work explores the idea of ‘natural abstraction’ and is somewhat of a challenge to the history and contrived nature of still life painting through the use of experimental drawing techniques to distort and abstract the content of the still life. It also explores the relationships that occur when multiple works are created from the same source material. The drawing techniques include: blind drawing (not looking at the drawing while I’m drawing it), people manipulating my body while I draw, disorienting myself whilst drawing, using sticks or drills to hold the pen, pencil or charcoal. Varied painting techniques, colour manipulation and materials are also used to further enhance these different relationships. Through the use of these varied techniques and repetitive exploration of each still life, what has emerged are distinct ‘Families’ of works. Families that express their own individuality, idiosyncrasies and quirks, whilst sharing similar physical characteristics with the other ‘members’ of their family. (The idea being that multiple works will be shown together as a ‘Family’.) Like human siblings, these ‘Brothers and Sisters’ share the same parentage (myself and the still life), yet are all completely different.
Josh Robbins is an artist living and working in Naarm, Melbourne. He’s been a practicing artist for around 12 years and in that time has exhibited in Melbourne, Adelaide, Western Australia, New South Wales and London. The first part of his artistic life drew inspiration from the natural world and was interested in creating works of respite and contemplation, with exhibitions from this period including bespoke soundtracks, sculpture and performative elements. After a stint at the VCA, he shifted focus to the conceptual and material nature of things. Looking at the space between the purely visual and purely conceptual. A space he thinks of as ‘conceptual modernism’, where idea’s, material’s and craft each play their roll and where each project exists in its own right rather than being stylistically driven. These projects have included typography, sculpture, performance, found objects and abstraction. Touching on themes of vulnerability, alienation and acceptance. Each one expanding his visual voice and artistic evolution whilst being mindful of retaining the hand of the artist as an ongoing presence.
