We catch up with Sydney-based artist, BENNETT, who’ll be opening his new exhibition, Double Take, at kind of — periodical next week, alongside Tom Ferson. BENNETT gives us the lowdown on the show and the process behind it all…
My name is…
BENNETT
But I’m also known as…
BENNETT
My latest exhibition is called…
‘Double Take’
And it is about…
‘Double Take’ is the latest collection of artworks & installations from myself and fellow Higher Ground Studio inhabitant Tom Ferson. Within this new collection we have explored and demonstrated both the similarities and differences between our finished works as well as our practices – which are equally unique and unusual.
Whilst have created two stylistically disparate bodies of work, a penchant for abstraction and nostalgic imagery has helped create an evidently tactile series of artworks which challenges the audience and forces them to take a visual journey and explore the work further. The collection encourages a double take to fully grasp the entirety of each piece and its possible meaning. Alteration of the surface mirroring the alternative concept that lays behind is the major theme.
Some things that influenced this series are…
We both have our own ongoing influences when it comes to art making, for exmaple my love of combining found materials and questioning values of perception, amd Tom is slightly more focused on image as a whole in conjunction with the use of patterns. I think these personal influences took some what of a back seat in regards to this series.It all came around quite organically, we both became aware of the common source material we used as well as an evident mutal fondness of nostiglic imagery jusxstaposed with exterior elements.
An album I listened to a stack when making the works was…
‘Awake’ by Trash Talk
‘Bad Romance’ by I Exist
The time of day I’m most likely to make art is…
I enjoy all of my time in the studio, but i would say im most focused and productive later in the night – say after 9ish
The hardest part of putting this show together was…
First thing I do when I get up in the morning is…
Have a cup of tea… maybe two
Some other artists I have been enjoying the work of are…
Locally – Ears, Trent Whitehead, Birdhat, Numskull, Beastman, Roach, Reka, Meegs, Thomas Jackson, Phibs, Esjay, John Hynd, Bei Bad Girl, Tom Ferson, Dboe, Mark Alsweiler, Max Berry, Stabs, ELK, Rone, Shida
Internationally – Lister, Kid Zoom, Neck Face, Chrissie Abbott, Jay Howell, French, Mark Walen, Barry McGee
What I’m working on at the moment is…
Finishing the installation part of this show (Double Take), some works for group shows, and planning a solo show for later in the year.
My favourite colour is…
Either a blackish grey or a greyish black
If I wasn’t doing what I’m doing, I’d be…
Bored
The last website I visited was…
Fecal Face
My favourite youtube vid is…
Anything with Neck Face in it!
Tomorrow I will be…
Reflecting on today
DOUBLE TAKE opens at kind of — periodical this Thursday night. Check the flyer or head to kindofgallery.com for more details. See more of BENNETT’s work over at b-e-n-n-e-t-t.com.