Tony Cran
The Fairest of the Seasons
November 23 – December 16, 2006

‘For a long while my work has been concerned with ‘End Time’ narratives, particularly with the moment of an ‘Apocalyptic’ realisation or event.
Natural disasters have largely featured as an anchor within the work.
These landscapes tend to be populated with weeds and all kinds of introduced animal species struggling for survival. More recently I have moved past this point in the narrative to explore the aftermath more closely.

Recovery, adaptation and the relief after the storm laced with a hint of shock and more than a little hope, has become the central theme. Throughout all this, images from the ‘natural’ world are still my stock and trade. I find anthropomorphic (say that 5 times fast) imagery has been an effective way for me to side step some of my usual cognitive hang ups allowing more reflective space both for the viewer and myself.
Besides, animals are fun to paint.

Via utilising painting techniques salvaged from early 20th century painters Franz Von Stuck, Sydney Long, Rupert Bunny and Gustav Klimpt (to name a few), as well as Art Deco advertising posters, I hope to link my work and its early 21c post dystopian ‘hang over’ in some way to the remains of the wishful thinking past.’  Tony Cran, artist statement

Tony completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours at the Victoria College of the Arts in 2005. He is an artist that had an unconventional upbringing giving him an unusual outlook on life with a sharp wit.  The content of his work appears so comfortable to look at, yet another look we begin to see unsettling disparities.
Beautifully executed paintings, this is a young artist to look out for.