TONY WILSON currently lives and works in both Vietnam and Australia. His lineage is also a mix, from the Kaurna, Ngarrindjeri and Nurangga Nations in South Australia on his mother’s side, and from Umbria and Puglia in Italy on his father’s. Winner of the Don Dunstan Foundation Emerging Artist Prize in 2018 and other awards, Tony’s work is now showing at REDSEA Gallery in Singapore. We asked him a few questions about his background and his Aboriginal art-inspired creations.
Tell us about your background and how you discovered your love for Aboriginal art and painting.
I am a multi-disciplinary Indigenous Australian artist based in South Australia and Southeast Asia. I have a diverse cultural heritage: Aboriginal heritage through my mother and Italian heritage through my father. From an early age, I discovered a love for illustrating people and landscapes, mostly with graphite and charcoal. After a period of disconnecting from my art practice, my passion to create returned with a yearning to explore a more abstract work that is heavily influenced by my Indigenous culture and storytelling style.
Most of your work uses the dot painting technique of Aboriginal art; what does this method mean to you?
The technique is a way of expressing my connection to my culture and is a form of storytelling, using symbols and patterns to convey meaning and messages. My personal style is a visual depiction of the invisible space between us and all things.
What do you think people feel or experience when they see your paintings?
I hope that people feel a sense of curiosity and wonder. I hope that they are drawn into the details and the depth of the colours and shapes. And I hope that they experience a glimpse of the sacred and the sublime, the space between our thoughts, where we can connect with ourselves and the universe.
Do you have any rituals or routines that you follow when you create this Australian art?
I like to create art in a quiet and peaceful environment, where I can focus and meditate. But I’m normally sitting in busy cafés and sketching out my ideas first. Back in the studio, I often listen to music or podcasts while I paint, to stimulate my creativity and imagination.
What has been the most difficult part of your creative journey so far?
It has been overcoming self-doubt and criticism. As an artist, I am always striving to improve and grow, but sometimes I can be too hard on myself. I have learned to trust my own voice and vision, and to appreciate the feedback and support from my family and close friends.
What is your favourite work that you have created and why?
It was titled Uncle, and it was a dedication to all my uncles and mentors who got me to believe in myself. This artwork style also gave birth to my current works.
What is the most valuable advice you have ever received as an artist?
It was focus on the process, not the end results. Be authentic and share things you have felt.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?
I’d like to collaborate with a sound and light engineer, to explore ways to bring my artwork into a more immersive experience.
What are your hobbies and interests outside of painting?
I enjoy travel. It’s the ultimate unplugging tool for me to plug back into the world. I’m also a foodie, so cooking is my other regular mindfulness activity.
What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are just starting out?
Find your own voice and style. Express yourself honestly. Know yourself and share your version of the world with us. Trust your own instincts and vision. And most importantly, enjoy the process and the journey of creating art.
REDSEA Gallery Singapore
Block 9 Dempsey Road, #01-10 Dempsey Hill
6732 6711 | redseagallery.com
This article on Tony Wilson’s Australian art first appeared in the March 2024 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe so you never miss a copy!
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