Interview

Aug 7

Geoffrey Ian Wilson

Based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, Australia, artist Geoffrey Ian Wilson is an abstract expressionist painter. His large scale artworks capture the kinetic energy of his subjects with love, light, colour and gritty darkness. Painting in acrylics, oils and mixed media, his artwork is about a spirit world where the creatures reveal lost and found souls. Through his organic process, his audience is transported to a place of curiosity of our inner child. He draws his creativity from his associated worlds of music and architecture. Geoffrey is an established architect, musician and singer songwriter. Being a multi-disciplinary artist, his painting is an extension of his songs, his lyrics, his music and all are inspired by his nostalgic love of old vinyl record cover art.

His work as an emerging artist is guided by 30 years of hand drawing and concept design, creating some of Australia’s award winning architectural projects. Born in Tasmania in 1963, Geoffrey’s pathway to his personal art practice has come from an inherent sense of loss through his birth and upbringing which becomes a theme running through his subconscious and lifelong search for identity. Abstraction and transitional art techniques are a constant in his work in the quest to open the many doors of perception for any art collector.

What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?

“I have been a ‘creative’ in the world of architecture and music for years - as an architect on city shaping projects and a musician, songwriter and recording artist in parallel worlds. Painting has been a passion of mine and it made sense that I stretch my design skills, and harness new energy levels through abstract art. My work as an emerging artist shares experiences from my 30 years of hand drawing and concept design. Being a multi-disciplinary artist, I draw from my songs, lyrics, music, and my love of old record art. I was born in Tasmania in the 60’s and my pathway to my personal art practice has come from an inherent sense of loss and grief from my birth and upbringing. It becomes a central theme running through my subconscious and my lifelong search for identity. My experiences through my adopted family life and unreconciled search and loss has shaped me immeasurably.”

What inspires you?

“My art practice has allowed me to connect with my spiritual being and subconscious. My memories are grounded in a profound respect for nature and the supernatural. To say that I am inspired by nature only touches the surface, as I feel that the universe provides us with stories and signs that connect us with the mystical and mythical. I spent my formative teenage years in California by the American River in one of the first Rudolph Steiner Schools in the 1970’s. The energy and spirit of this America, a strong memory for me. Hidden in the stars in the vivid desert skies were the mystical creatures of my childhood. I was taught to trace the dots and find the souls in a Native American dreamtime akin to our Australian Indigenous narratives. My art often reflects on how cultures across the world, search for their own meaning and identity by reminiscing about their own dreamtime.”

What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?

““Capturing Souls on Canvas” is a constant theme in my art practice that pervades all my collections. I love conjuring animals, creatures, spiritual beings and spiritual landscapes in my paintings. Abstract art challenges the audience to search for meaning in the canvas and it offers many different perspectives for the viewer depending in their vault of memories and their current circumstance. I have a childlike curiosity with creatures and beings that exist as a part of our world both physically and emotionally.”

“Abstract art challenges the audience to search for meaning in the canvas and it offers many different perspectives for the viewer depending in their vault of memories and their current circumstance.”

How would you describe your work?

“My large scale artworks capture the kinetic energy of the subjects with love, light, colour and gritty darkness. Painting in acrylics, oils and mixed media - my artwork is about a spirit world where the creatures reveal lost and found souls. Through my organic process, my audience is transported to a place of curiosity of our inner child.”

Which artists influence you most?

“Frank Hodgkinson is a traditional Australian artist that I totally connect with. He had a flair with colour and composition and was an early explorer of the power of abstract. He was a fellow architect and worshipper of nature and all things fruitful! Frank Stella another colourful architectural painter and graphic artist really inspires me with his freedom with his palette, shapes and forms. And more recently I would can certainly claim that the art world of my friend, danger artist, Anthony Lister fascinates me. He has so much talent and has resisted the the lure of the commercial pathway for his voice and craft that is deeply rooted in street art.”

What is your creative process like?

“My approach is intuitive but is also guided by my creative past. Although I have always been curious of oils where I first started, I have found a certain freedom in the vibrancy of the colour tones I can achieve with working with acrylics and mixed medium paint types, liberating. The key for me throughout this art journey, is to maintain the organic process by which I evolve an art piece. There is a spirituality that pervades the creative process for me that conjures a painting into being. I enjoy sharing insights into my Art practice on Instagram where you can follow my artwork progression and inspiration. I never say still. I have an innate energy and am always evolving my art at pace however there is always a common spirituality and pervading each collection, seeking personalisation and capturing your imagination.”

What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?

“An artist’s role should be always to comment on social norms and extremes. The freedom of expression is the ultimate self expression. An artist should create for themselves rather than for anyone else. Do you create the infinite one thing for someone or a thousand things for a thousand? The choice to pursue a career in any creative field is becoming more and more challenging in a society that believes that creativity is a luxury not a necessity to life. Perhaps the role of an artist is to relate to commercially minded individuals to challenge and question this assumption. The AI (Artificial Intelligence) generation is here and artists need to be so careful to understand what this really means to human creativity.”