Marcus Camphoo and Simon Wilson

Mixed media on found acetate

90x61cm

Marcus Camphoo, aka, Double O, is an Alywarra man. Double O has a certain grace and otherworldly quality that shines through in his total commitment to exploring nuances of the grid, which has become his signature aesthetic. From the beginning it was clear Camphoo has a natural affinity towards large gestural and bold abstraction. The best of his works resonate like portals to an ulterior dimension.

Simon Wilson developed an early interest in art whilst at school. His latest style is predominantly, but not limited to, acrylic gloss on masonite board. Wilson works acrylic, enamel, and spray paint through hijinx, deliberation and chance to conceive the inconceivable in his painted and sculptural pieces. His work, characterised by experimentation, ambitious abstraction and its performative pulse – which Wilson renders through his pouring technique – is situated in an internal pictorial schema which, most often, represents the elemental and animal worlds.

The Tennant Creek Men’s art program started in 2016 as an art therapy/ outreach program set up by Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corp. The group, a mix of fringe dwellers and emerging cultural leaders, have continued to work together and often collaboratively, forming a unique and cutting-edge artist collective named ‘The Tennant Creek Brio‘. Their work pushes conventions, drawing on imagery and traditions from the Wirnkarra (Dreaming), the Old Testament and mythic iconography from around the world. Their action paintings and performance represent the enthusiasm and dedication of the collective as they continue to develop a cathartic visual language fuelled by the material histories and complexities of life in Tennant Creek.