Congratulations John!
2009 Williamstown Festival Award - Finalist
ARTIST STATEMENT
“If you were to ask a group of people to describe a flower,
you would undoubtedly end up with several different answers.
Some would describe the physical features of the flower whilst others would describe the smell or feel of the object. Some might even relay how the plant came into being or it’s scientific name and genus. Basically, we all have different ways of looking at the same thing and how we interpret it depends on various factors of ourselves – education, environment, upbringing, beliefs etc.
When developing this body of work, I was interested in investigating the possibility of how images could be reinvented, reworked and manipulated, resulting in varied interpretations of the same thing. By using four initial images of Geisha, I have created a number of re-interpretations; some literal and some lateral. The common thread with these interpretations is the use of the grid. For centuries, the grid has been used in art for a number of different reasons – composition, effect, reproducing images and layout. Visually, the grid is evident in all of my pieces while being subtly enhanced with shellac. Through the age old practice of weaving, grids manifested themselves within wallpaper and coloured images. These were then developed and reworked into larger, more complex pieces.
As the images of the Geisha were altered and reworked, a similarity was developing between this manipulation and the actual character of the Geisha themselves. While they strive to make themselves neutral, they are in fact quite complex. By altering their physical features, their superficial beauty becomes irrelevant and we are presented with earthy, unsettling images that are perhaps truer to their real selves. Peel back the layers and you’ll find the true being – the actual person.”
John Knap 2009
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2009: Jackman Gallery, St
Kilda, Melbourne
2008: Jackman Gallery, St Kilda, Melbourne
2008: Incinerator Arts Complex, Moonee Ponds, Melbourne
2008: The Makeshift Gallery, Fitzroy, Melbourne
2007/2008 Incube8r Gallery, Collingwood, Melbourne
2007: ‘RITUALS’ - Jackman Gallery, St Kilda, Melbourne
2006/07/08: Filter, Fitzroy, Melbourne
2006: Jackman Gallery, St Kilda, Melbourne
2005/2006: FreeStyle Tout, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
2005: ‘ATTRACTION’ - SODA Gallery, Avalon, Sydney
2004: FreeStyle Tout, Rosalie, Brisbane
2002: ‘DIS-COVER-ED’ – Lychee Lounge, West End, Brisbane
2000: ‘Fragments of Class’ – Moray Café, New
Farm, Brisbane
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2009: ‘Belvedere Vodka Art Exhibition’ – McCulloch Gallery,
Melbourne
2009: ‘Williamstown Festival Contemporary Art Prize’ –
New Port, Melbourne
2008: ‘Melbourne on Canvas’ – Zephyr Gallery, Docklands,
Melbourne
2004: ‘ArtForce’ initiative – Traffic Signal Box Public
Art – New Farm, Brisbane
2004: ‘Rosalie Art Show’ – FreeStyle Tout, Rosalie,
Brisbane
2004: ‘Rainbow Chasers’ – WiseArt Gallery, Brisbane
City
2004: ‘Abused Child Trust Exhibition’ – Riverside Centre,
Brisbane City
2004: ‘Artshow 542’ – Powerhouse Museum, New Farm, Brisbane
2000 – 2003: ‘ArtForce’ initiative – Traffic Signal
Box Public Art – Brisbane City
2000 – 2003:‘ArtScape’ – Padua Collage, Kedron,
Brisbane
1999: ‘Pride Exhibition’ – Fireworks Gallery, Newstead,
Brisbane
AWARDS
2009: Finalist - Williamstown Festival Award
2004: Overall Runner Up – ArtForce initiative
2003: People’s Choice – ‘ArtScape’
2003: Highly Commended – ArtForce initiative
2000-2002: Highly Commended – ArtForce initiative
COLLECTIONS
Corporate: Nippondenso, Japan
Private Collections throughout Australia, USA, UK, Europe and Canada
BYE BYE LOVE
MADAME B
SHIFT'S END
WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT
WAITING FOR TOMORROW
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