Art

A Foreign Affair With Ross Taylor

When we think of artists and creative producers, it is easy to imagine people working in inner-city warehouse studios and mingling at openings with (often bad) free wine. But many of Australia’s most exciting creatives are working from regional locations, where a different pace allows for a different kind of work to flourish.

In advance of his exhibition A Foreign Affair opening 23rd July at Sophie Gannon Gallery, we chat with artist Ross Taylor about growing up in Northumberland, and now living in Kyneton, Vic.

Written
by
Miriam McGarry

Artist Ross Taylor in his Kyneton studio. Photo – courtesy Sophie Gannon Gallery

Photo – courtesy Sophie Gannon Gallery

Cosmocaixa (left) and Standard Ocean View (right) by Ross Taylor. Photo – courtesy Sophie Gannon Gallery

You’ve Got To Say Yes To Success (left) and Home Runs (right). Photo – courtesy Sophie Gannon Gallery

Madeira (left) and Smart Casual (right). Photo – courtesy Sophie Gannon Gallery

Writer
Miriam McGarry
23rd of July 2019

Ross Taylor grew up in Northumberland (North East England) and studied in both the UK and Germany. He explains how the environment and layers of history in these locations ‘was particularly inspiring, and led me to start painting in my teens.’

After exhibiting throughout the UK and Japan, Ross moved to Melbourne in 2009. In 2015, he swapped the big smoke for the bush, relocating to Kyneton in the Macedon Ranges. At this point, he describes ‘my practice shifted to drawing the bold compositions that I produce today.’

Ross’ Kyneton studio makes cold, trendy Brunwsick warehouses sound very uninspiring, in contrast to his country fireplace and ‘views out over the town’, where the artist can watch the seasonal colour changes. Although small town living can be claustrophobic for some, Ross loves running into people he knows on his coffee run, and has joined Kyneton Contemporary as board member.

The artist’s new show A Foreign Affair continues his colourful, bold perspective-skewing drawings on paper, to explore holidays as a social phenomenon. He explains ‘I am fascinated at the fine line between luxury and debauchery, and the rules that present themselves in between.’ In playing with both satire an nostalgia, the exhibition explores Ross’ own experiences as an ‘English kid abroad.’ The exhibition gently stitches together disjointed scenes, so create an overall narrative that reflects the patchiness of memory.

For aspiring artists, Ross encourages patience, persistence and staying true to your craft. He shares ‘make the work that you want to make, not what you think you should be making.’

A Foreign Affair
23rd July – 10th August 2019
Sophie Gannon Gallery
2 Albert Street
Richmond
VIC 3121

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