Saxon Quinn
Melbourne-based artist Saxon Quinn draws inspiration from music and the grunge and grit of city streets.
Words: Hande Renshaw | Photography: Annika Kafcaloudis
‘The balanced placement of shapes and markings that overlay the inconsistent concrete allow the eyes to sing their way through the works,’ says Saxon Quinn of his latest body of work, Heavy Harmony, at Saint Cloche. Photo: Annika Kafcaloudis
Come Back Tomorrow by Saxon Quinn from his exhibition Heavy Harmony at Saint Cloche. Photo: Samuel Guy
H&F: Tell us a little about your journey as a self-taught artist, when did you start painting?
Saxon: Hey! I started painting steadily in 2017. Before then I was dabbling every now and then, but in sessions far and few between, and never in a studio… more so just doodling.
I grew up in an artistic environment. My mother was a full-time artist and had a large studio within our family home. My father was a visual designer and part-time artist.
Was there a defining moment when you realised that working as an artist was for you?
There were a couple. One being the fact that I found myself calm when painting and able to relax. The second was that I was always and still am, excited to get into the studio.
Tell us about your process?
I generally sketch out my ideas at home in my notepad, then when I get to the studio I begin to create the original work. If I’m working with cement, I’ll build the foundations, mix and pour the cement and let it set for 2 days. Once set I then sand, spray and oil the cement and let it set for 12 hours. From there I mark out the solid shapes, followed by sketching in the rough pastel and graphite markings.
If I’m working with canvas I usually roughen up the entire roll and stain it… this usually needs to be done in the driveway of the studio as the roll is generally twenty or so metres long.
How does your day begin; do you follow any rituals?
I wake at 5am, that way I can communicate with any overseas galleries I’m in talks with that have different time zones. I go for a run around 6am and then head off to the gallery at around 7am.
Where do you mainly gather inspiration for your work?
I find inspiration from my mum’s work, her studio, other artists, music and wandering the streets taking in my surroundings. I love the way building walls, alleyways, and footpaths age over time with layer upon layer of grit, graffiti and grime.
A detail of the rough details found in Saxon’s layered artwork. Photo: Annika Kafcaloudis
Concrete features heavily in Saxon Quinn’s work. Photo: Annika Kafcaloudis
“I love the way building walls, alleyways and footpaths age over time with layer upon layer of grit, graffiti and grime.”
Spring Light by Saxon Quinn from his exhibition Heavy Harmony at Saint Cloche. Photo: Samuel Guy
Untitled I & II by Saxon Quinn from his exhibition Heavy Harmony at Saint Cloche. Photo: Samuel Guy
Saxon Quinn in his Cheltenham studio in Melbourne. Photo: Annika Kafcaloudis
That Summer Tune by Saxon Quinn from his exhibition Heavy Harmony at Saint Cloche. Photo: Samuel Guy
Tell us about your exhibition Heavy Harmony at Saint Cloche
Heavy Harmony is an abstract representation of the musical term ‘harmony’ and how each sound in a song might look when sprawled out across the canvas... the silence, the layered frequencies – each mark identifying as its own individual meaning to be interpreted by each individual viewing the works. The balanced placement of shapes and markings that overlay the inconsistent concrete allow the eyes to sing their way through the works.
What role does music play in your work?
Music almost always determines the placements of the markings on my works, whether it be the graphite, pastel marks, spray-paint of shapes.
You use splashes of bright neon colour in your work – why is colour so important?
The neon is a nice juxtaposition on the generally muted rough works. I like that the sprayed marks look like they’ve been carelessly positioned and marked to disrupt the work. Similar to a tagged wall.
What piece of advice would you give an artist who is starting out?
Don’t be afraid to share your work with others. Get yourself a dedicated space to create works, a place that you can be free to make a mess and be free to work in the way you want. Take other people’s opinions with a grain of salt.
SEE MORE FROM
SAXON QUINN
VISIT
HEAVY HARMONY AT SAINT CLOCHE
Virtual Exhibition 15th - 26th September 2021