SCULPTURE
SCULPTURE
PAINT & INK
PAINT & INK
PAINT & INK
CV
CV
CV
THE NATURE OF WANTING - ARTIST STATEMENT
‘The Nature of Wanting’ is a body of work that addresses the unsustainable consumption of the human race. As a species people continuously process resources of social, environmental and economic value with little regard for the future. Materials are extracted, refined and transformed into fleeting 'objects of desire'. Though a face-paced lifestyle only encourages a focus on the final product, their consumers have become detached from the process that created them. Resulting in a reduced appreciation between these 'objects of desire' and the methods used to create them. A disassociation that contributes to a wasteful attitude towards both labour and environmental resources.
This exhibition explores human body as a machine that seeks out and consumes through unsustainable resource gathering processes. Representing all 'objects of desire' is a small stepped pyramid that appears in several of the works. Whether through representation or suggestion, human presence provides context and narrative for this pyramid to generate discussion of humanity’s consumption habits.
THE NATURE OF WANTING - ARTIST STATEMENT
‘The Nature of Wanting’ is a body of work that addresses the unsustainable consumption of the human race. As a species people continuously process resources of social, environmental and economic value with little regard for the future. Materials are extracted, refined and transformed into fleeting 'objects of desire'. Though a face-paced lifestyle only encourages a focus on the final product, their consumers have become detached from the process that created them. Resulting in a reduced appreciation between these 'objects of desire' and the methods used to create them. A disassociation that contributes to a wasteful attitude towards both labour and environmental resources.
This exhibition explores human body as a machine that seeks out and consumes through unsustainable resource gathering processes. Representing all 'objects of desire' is a small stepped pyramid that appears in several of the works. Whether through representation or suggestion, human presence provides context and narrative for this pyramid to generate discussion of humanity’s consumption habits.
THE NATURE OF WANTING - ARTIST STATEMENT
‘The Nature of Wanting’ is a body of work that addresses the unsustainable consumption of the human race. As a species people continuously process resources of social, environmental and economic value with little regard for the future. Materials are extracted, refined and transformed into fleeting 'objects of desire'. Though a face-paced lifestyle only encourages a focus on the final product, their consumers have become detached from the process that created them. Resulting in a reduced appreciation between these 'objects of desire' and the methods used to create them. A disassociation that contributes to a wasteful attitude towards both labour and environmental resources.
This exhibition explores human body as a machine that seeks out and consumes through unsustainable resource gathering processes. Representing all 'objects of desire' is a small stepped pyramid that appears in several of the works. Whether through representation or suggestion, human presence provides context and narrative for this pyramid to generate discussion of humanity’s consumption habits.
Harrison Waed See
image courtesy of Mundaring Arts Centre (2018)
HARRISON SEE
(b. 1990)
See is an emerging West-Australian artist with a background in manufacturing and industrial design. He predominantly uses paint and sculpture to construct scenes rich in narrative and symbolism. See’s most recent focus has been the search for stories and themes that transcend cultural difference in an effort to generate understanding among diverse audiences. However, after an extended period practicing art in Asia, he has returned to Perth to explore and pay homage to his hometown’s natural environment.
See began his creative career by studying Industrial Design at Curtin University, where he received the 'Graduate Award for Excellence' in 2010. He then spent several years working his way up to Senior Industrial Designer at a Perth-based manufacturing group.
See eventually resigned and enrolled at Edith Cowan University (ECU) to study visual arts. He graduated at the end of 2015 with the 'Louise Macfie Painting Award' and the invitation to return the following year to undertake his honours studies.
Before beginning his honours project in 2016, he was awarded one of the prestigious 'New Colombo Plan' scholarships, which funded his five and a half month stay in Shanghai at the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology (USST). Prior to departing for China, See had his first solo exhibition titled 'The Nature of Wanting' at the Maylands gallery, Studio 281.
See completed his thesis at the end of 2016 with 'First Class Honours' and the opportunity to publish his exegesis online through Edith Cowan University.
In early 2017 he flew back to China at the invitation of the Chinese European Art Centre in Xiamen. There See spent three months undertaking his first artist in residence program and further explored Chinese culture and arts. This experience concluded with his second solo exhibition (and first international solo exhibition), 'Tower of Modern'.
During this residency See travelled briefly back to Shanghai to organise a joint show titled, 'Paradise’s Parasite I', with two other Australian artists and a local Chinese artist. It was held at the Hujiang Gallery and explored both Australia’s and China’s environmental waste concerns. The exhibition was then shown again later that year at the Sino-British College (USST). Additional works were featured and the exhibition was titled 'Paradise’s Parasite II'.
In 2017 See was also commissioned to create an artwork for the 'Stations of the Cross' exhibition held annually at Perth’s Wesley Church. A show that also travelled to the Geraldton Regional Art Gallery several weeks later.
His most recent creative endeavour has been the founding of the artist collective 'New State' with fellow ECU graduate Aliesha Mafrici [www.alieshamafrici.com]. Together they had their first joint show at Turner Galleries, titled 'Passage Self Strange'; with the plan of having more shows together in the near future.
In 2018 Harrison See now prepares for his second residency at the Mundaring Arts Centre, the continuation of the joint China-Australia project the exhibition 'Paradise’s Parasite III' to be held at Spectrum Project Space, as well as his (by then) fourth solo show at 'The Lobby' exhibition space in Claremont.