THE drama of winter with its walloping winds and sky-striking lightning is perfect fodder for an artist.
Perth sculptor Brendan van Hek has found his muse in the cold season.
“I love the greyness, the coldness and the rain, as well as the idea of storms that come with winter,” he said.
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READ NOWVan Hek – now residing in Sydney – has returned to his hometown for the Winter Arts Season with new work, Light Study.
On show in Perth’s Piccadilly Arcade, the installation was inspired by the Noongar season of Makuru – the coldest and wettest of the year.
“When I was thinking of the concept, I wondered how the Noongar people looked at the idea of winter and then I did a little bit of research about it,” van Hek said.
“Also, the City of Perth put in the brief that they wanted the idea of winter to be something active – the Noongar people see Makuru as a very active season.
“People go into hibernation but there is all this activity happening below the surface, so that’s how my idea arose.
“That’s why when you see the work, it’s kind of blacked out and everything is happening behind that surface.”
Light Study is a series of vertically placed neon lights that form an energetic composition to fill the space of a shop window like a field.
The neon creates a sweeping pattern of red, blue, yellow and white that blends together in a blue-purple glow.
The art piece can be seen in the arcade next to the clothing alterations shop.
THE ESSENTIALS
What: Light Study
When: Now until July 30
Where: Piccadilly Arcade, Perth
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