Mathew Hooker Artist

In this series of works I separated colour from its normal descriptive and representational purpose so it could exist on the canvas as an independent element whose primary concern is its relationship to the other colour’s present..

“Exploring the idea of how perception makes reality fickle, I simultaneously considered the observed reality around me, my personal experience, memory and imagination, and let the process determine the final image. My time in Lesperon, a small village hidden within hundreds of acres of pine trees, was spent searching for how to best capture the experience and atmosphere of the environment surrounding us… Ink, charcoal and gesso were used to create atmospheric, textured, monotone vignettes.”

In this latest series I’m considering the relationship humans have with an ‘external’ natural environment.

These paintings are an investigation of the idea that we try to ‘connect’ with nature, in an attempt to escape a dominant internal dialogue, to get out of our head, to escape the experience that we’re being afforded.

By adding and subtracting thin layers of paint and letting the process reveal the final result, the paintings represent the cerebrally driven way we can sometimes view ourselves. It is a strange idea, to have a “relationship” with nature, to “connect” with nature… when in fact the only disconnection is created by our mind. We are and always have been a part of nature.

I drew upon physical references, (the real world, photos and sketches), memory and imagination.

Rather than using life models or photos of ‘real,’ organic people, most of the figures in the paintings are based on sculptures by Henri Matisse and Anthony Gormley, the rest are from my imagination.

This series has been evolving over the last few years with a push to finish over the last 12 months. It is an exploration of the relationship between the Eastern suburbs of Sydney’s coastline, the buildings upon it, and the energy of the sea. It was inspired by the light and times i’ve spent in and around the area. (Thats why the pieces are centred around Bronte, Tamarama and Bondi.)

With travelling being a major influence in my life i’ve taken to documenting the roads along the way. To risk sounding cliche, every step is a part of life’s journey… and it is so often not the destination that affords the time to reflect and the insights which enable a person to grow and evolve… This series is as much a reminder of these moments as it is a doorway to memories of the places and good friends I've met along the way…

Having devoted a large chunk of my life as a bit of a nomad, chasing waves around the globe, its no wonder the Ocean has always and will always continue to inspire and captivate me. This ‘never ending’ series has been a delight to create so far as it gratefully allows me a more and more intimate understanding and relationship with the ocean. I’m constantly astounded by the many emotions and moods of the ocean portrayed by the energy it has both potentially and kinetically. The ocean co-exists with the sky and I love trying to capture how it interacts spacially with the ocean. I also love trying to capture the beautiful and dramatic light that brings any and all seascapes to life.

Waves are the product of the winds energy transferred just below the surface of the ocean and i’ve spent the majority of my life in pursuit of catching and riding these rolling orbs of energy. Waves are dynamic, fluid, majestical and powerful… they shape coastlines and lives, they beat rocks into sand and they are relentless and non-discriminatory. They’re both my muse and my teacher.

Spending so much time in the ocean, sharks have always been fascinating to me both as an apex predator and personally on a psychological level as a frequent, vulnerable visitor into their domain. Ive had a handful of close-ish encounters, numerous dreams and have heard plenty of horror stories… What I've of learnt about them from books is truly amazing. How I deal with the ever-present, sometimes irrational threat as a surfer and ocean swimmer is also an interesting insight into human psychology and intuition. Despite the constant sensationalised, one-sided view of sharks in the main stream media our understanding of these phenomenal creatures is constantly evolving. Two things that never change is the Great White Sharks majestic beauty and peoples inherent fear of them. As a result, I try to capture as honestly as I can their beauty and power in moments that showcase an ambivalence to humans.