Matt Pilkington Profile

about the work of Matt Pilkington.

Biography

My distinctive artwork is created from weather-beaten timber, iron, old linoleum and discarded materials from old farms and local tips. Using systems of assemblage to construct images that can be pictorial, minimal and abstract which illustrate the spirit of the landscape. My art practice is a process of collecting and transforming the discarded to evoke memories and experiences of the landscape.

A key factor in using recycled materials is that the amounts are always finite; each work restricted simply by the amount of the particular nature of the found materials. The weather beaten materials, made with the wearing of time, cannot be reproduced. Therefore the material collected restricts my process and also can therefore expand it.

My artworks may lean against the wall in the studio with out a title for days, months or even years. It is not until an experience or memory, or an image comes to mind that evokes to me the general feeling of the work. The 'title' a name for a work is a very important part, they are the experiences and memories, the essence with in the materials found and used, they tell a story, and they have history. As the artist I pass my concept to the viewer evoking their experiences and memories of images and the materials used.

I was born in Cowra in 1978 and moved around regional New South Wales for most of my life, only leaving to complete a diploma in Fine Arts at Penrith TAFE in 1998 and graduating at the School of Contemporary Arts University of Western Sydney in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts. I have participated in group exhibitions at galleries in Sydney, such as at Penrith Regional Gallery. My first solo exhibition was in 2002. I was a finalist in the Country Energy Art Prize in 2005, where the work was exhibited at New South Wales Parliament House and Grafton Regional Gallery.

Living in Cooma in the snowy region of NSW for four years, I exhibited regularly at the Cooma Raglan Gallery and local cafes. A solo show at Raglan Gallery in 2006 funded my trip overseas to Ireland, London and Germany. Coming back to Australia I traveled around regions of New South Wales then settled in Armidale.

I have been living in Armidale for almost three years now and regularly exhibit at Armidale Art Gallery where I am now President of the New England Art Society. Being involved with the emerging artists of the New England region gives me great satisfaction. I have also participated in a group exhibition at 126 Gallery in Armidale.

I believe that working in regional New South Wales is an excellent way for my work to develop because of the surrounding in which I work and live. You don't have to go and live in 'the big smoke' to be an artist and to get recognition. Perhaps they should be coming to us in the regional areas; this is where it's at!