Art & Collectors is thrilled to welcome the work of Australian artist John Cullinane to our collection. Represented at the National Gallery of Australia, Art Gallery of Western Australia and Parliament House, Cullinane’s work is intelligent, humorous and unexpected, short stories left open for the viewer to finish. They are minor miracles for strange times.
John Cullinane – ‘A Loss of Faith’
What are some of the central themes or ideas in your work?
The central ideas come from things that catch my attention in the media, books, stories, events or even things seen driving the car. I try not to confine myself to set themes for exhibitions because I feel that I may want to go back to a subject in the future so I keep it open ended.
John Cullinane – ‘No Place to Go’
There can be a sense of wistfulness in your work. What emotions or experiences do you hope to evoke from the viewer?
I want viewers of my work to ponder, to catch themselves thinking, like when the mind ends up in a place that they would never have considered, and think… “Hey, how did I get here?”
John Cullinane – ‘Sunday Walk’
What draws you to Greek and Roman mythology?
The Greeks had a firm concept of universal principles with their philosophy, mathematics and sociology. They understood the relationships between the virtual and the actual realities of human existence. I have noticed that archetypes will appear in certain situations, for example… At a party, an alpha male may be replaced by another alpha who arrives, turning the original alpha into the Joker archetype.
John Cullinane – ‘Mars and Venus’
Who are some artists that inspire you?
At art school in the 1980’s, we studied both classical and modernist art. There was an influence at the time from Europe with Transavantegardia that seeped through when modernism seemed to be at its limit in painting. Artists like Clemente, Chia, Paladino, Cucchi and other neo-expressionist artists held onto that thread that links back to the history of painting in the Western canon.
How would you describe your creative process?
I start with a drawing, small or large and sketch out an idea. Next, I work out the colour scheme in a further design or onto the original drawing with watercolour or pastels. Then I paint the chosen designs onto canvas in oil paint using a layering process with thin glazes to completion.
Explore the John Cullinane collection here.