Young artists paint the State red

Young emerging artists are the future of visual arts. Often energetic, full of ideas and passionate about what they do, they need opportunities to develop skills and promote their work in a professional capacity.

When artist Tim Sharp created Laser Beak Man at 11 years old, he had no inkling that his drawings of a superhero would one day make him the youngest artist to tour work with Queensland Arts Council’s Ontour onexhibition program. Diagnosed with autism when he was three, Sharp’s art provides him the opportunity to positively contribute and participate in life. Now 20 years old, his passion for drawing the whimsical adventures of the blue caped crusader Laser Beak Man, a strong, kind character who fights villains and lives in Power City, has become his full-time profession. ‘Laser Beak Man rocks. He goes on lots of adventures,’ said Sharp.

Sharp has become an internationally recognised artist, exhibiting at the Very Special Arts Festival in Washington DC (2004), the Sydney Opera House and National Museum in Canberra. With the support of Queensland Arts Council, Sharp exhibited work in 14 venues across the state from 2006 to 2008.

Young and emerging artists also help raise awareness of issues and ideas that young people all over regional Queensland identify with. As a young Cairns based artist and graphic designer, Daniel Wallwork experiments with automotive spray-painting and graffiti art to create a positive perspective of the prevalent performance car subculture. Wallwork’s exhibition HOON, depicting the streamlined curves and testosterone pumped power of muscle cars, hot rods and street machines, pays homage to Australia’s iconic modified and performance car cultures.

‘I think [this tour] is a fantastic opportunity to engage regional audiences . . . I particularly hope that car enthusiasts and local ‘hoons’, who would not normally come to an exhibition, come out to see the works,’ he said.

Daniel Wallwork is a founder of the ARI (Artist Run Initiative) and The Upholstery Contemporary Arts Group (Cairns) and has exhibited in several other group and solo shows both nationally and internationally. With the help of Queensland Arts Council he has exhibited in ten venues statewide.

Another two artists dedicated to communicating youth subcultures are Phillip Christensen and Ben Challenor. Combining their respective love of painting and photography to create an innovative fusion of skateboarding art and captured movement, these young artists created the exhibition titled Duplicated Utility which has just completed an extensive regional tour of 15 venues over three years with Ontour onexhibition. The exhibition set out to break some inter-generational boundaries and misconceptions about skateboarding culture by presenting it through the eyes of two passionate and creative young people.

Ontour onexhibition Manager, Jenni Regnart said it was of vital importance to support young emerging artists.

‘It is wonderful to see the trajectory of the careers of artists who tour with our program and give them the opportunity to communicate their ideas with audiences all over Queensland.’

Ontour onexhibition currently supports four young artists through professionally managed exhibition tours which enable them to promote their work to different audiences and communities, develop advocacy and media skills and communicate important issues for young people in regional towns.