Sharon Dawes

My work is, first and foremost, an exploration in paint and the use of an appropriate painterly language; one applicable to the painted subject and capable of imbuing it with certain characteristics beyond its superficial imagery.

Animals have been used to facilitate this exploration because of their interesting array of superficial (external) coverings, such as fur, skin, feathers; textures that are an integral part of an animal's form and character. I have chosen to paint animals that have been introduced to Australia1, post 1788, because of my own personal history, an interest in journeys into the unknown/early explorations and the role animals have played as 'place makers' in the settling of Australia (European Settlement). I have also painted animals to elevate the animal in modern times and to highlight the animal's plight in what, I believe, is oft a neglected chapter in Australia's history2.

Non-traditional backgrounds escape the trappings of predictable landscapes, elements that would detract from the aims of my exhibition 'Colonial Animal'. In its place text from nursery rhymes/fairytales (which are animal specific) or wall paper from the 1700s have been used. This text appears as white on white/black on black cursive and covers the canvas whilst lying beneath each animal3. These backgrounds also serve, with the oddly placed animals, to unify the project.

I also intend to introduce elements of whimsy, quirk and beauty into my work but request that any audience go beyond these 'superficial' elements to investigate the applied paint. I also acknowledge there are many other readings that can be applied4 to 'Colonial Animal' and whilst I have thought about many of them they are not the primary focus of this body of work.

1Please note: The use of domesticated animals does not negate the need for contemporary paintings of Australian animals, nor the use of them in future projects.

2Environmental and political issues aside.

3Ideas that relate to an underlying interest in anthropomorphism.

4Such as the role of domesticated animals, the role of animals in contemporary art practice, anthropomorphism, the environmental damage caused by introduced species, the transportation of animals (imports and exports), the use of text in work, meanings of fairytales and nursery rhymes, urban mythology and a whole host of other things.

Sharon Dawes June 2008


Exhibitions

  • June 12th - July 4th, 2008 - 'Colonial Animal' - Sharon Dawes Sharon Dawes first solo exhibition is an exploration in paintings of the animal species that were introduced to Australia on the First Fleet and beyond.
  • February 13th - March 9th, 2008 - 'mix' - A group exhibition featuring painting and sculpture by emerge artists Pierre Capponi, Di Cubitt, Estelle Dean, Lindsay Harris, Gigi Hesterman, Mason Kimber, Angela McHarrie, Alana McVeigh, Berenice Rarig, Felicity Sivewright and introducing Jonah Cacioppe, Sharon Dawes, Daniel Iley and Jake Snell .
  • October 14th - October 30th, 2009 - 'Zoo One Eleven' - Sharon Dawes Following on from her very successful first solo exhibition 'Colonial Animal' (June 2008) artist Sharon Dawes presents 'Zoo One Eleven' , an exploration into the opening of Perth Zoo in 1898. Using a 'Transcript of an Article in the West Australian' dated Monday 17th October 1898 Dawes re-creates the foundation animals of the zoo, in her own unique style.
  • November 10th - November 26th, 2010 - 'Reconfigured' - A group exhibition of figurative paintings. In addition to the ten emerge ART SPACE artists featured ( Jonah Cacioppe , Sharon Dawes , Kathryn Haug , Gigi Hesterman , Anna Sabadini , Kirstine Sadler , Ben Sherar , David Small , Claire Steele & Francesco Villicich ) emerge is delighted to introduce the work of three new artists - acclaimed South Australian artists Dianne Gall and Richard Maurovic and WA artist Karen Seaman.
  • November 9th - December 2nd, 2011 - 'Celestial Animal' - Sharon Dawes Celestial Animal will be the fourth solo exhibition by Sharon Dawes, whose beautifully rendered paintings of animals continue to be highly sought after. Celestial Animal explores the systems ancient man used to understand and recognise the night sky.  Many images of animals were imprinted onto the star patterns and these formed the basis for the figures of myth, as well as a means of finding a way about the sky and charting the movement of astrological bodies.   The subject has fascinated Dawes for a long time, as she has an avid interest in animals and astrology and in particular star signs.  The animals are rendered in what Dawes describes as 'paint specificity'; where paint is used in such a way that it describes something of the animal, beyond its superficial appearance. This technique of painting has won over many people in the genre of animal painting so do get in early to secure one of these mesmerising and covetable new paintings!
  • December 6th - December 16th, 2011 - 'Directors' Cut' - Group Exhibition An engaging selection of new and stockroom works including paintings, sculpture, ceramics, glass and jewellery from a selection of emerge's represented artists including Pierre Capponi, Di Cubitt, Sharon Dawes, Estelle Dean, Dianne Gall, Kathryn Haug, Lindsay Harris, Thomas Heidt, Gigi Hesterman, Alana McVeigh, Ben Sherar, Felicity Sivewright, David Small, Catherine Swioklo and jewellery designer Charlotte Sykora.

Sharon Dawes: Works Available