One for posterity
British-born Australian artist David Bromley is set to make his Malaysian debut with portraiture and more.
AT first glance no one would be able to tell that this unassumingly tall Australian is an internationally renowned artist.
In person, David Bromley, with his casual dress sense and humble mannerisms, exudes a charming persona, which is deeply reflected in his work. He mentions that his art, all through the years, has been inspired by love and happiness.
The 57-year-old British-born Bromley, who has made Australia his home, is most comfortable talking about his art career, especially to a small group of Malaysian media, which visited him at his studio located on Chapel Street in Melbourne late last month.
Bromley is set to debut his first Malaysian solo at KL Lifestyle Art Space (KLAS) in Petaling Jaya, starting Aug 8. The World Of David Bromley exhibition, featuring 60 varied works, will be his major introduction to the art-loving public here.
In his quaint studio, he tells us that his life in the art scene began at a market place in Australia.
“I was at a market (in Adelaide) and I saw a woman with a lot of pottery and I thought to myself, that is what I want to do,” remembers Bromley.
“I asked her if I could learn how to do pottery, and she said there was a course in a town 45 minutes away. I think I rang them up and asked if I could join and they said sure,” he adds.
Back then, Bromley worked “day and night” on his pottery craft, adding on quirky experimentations.
“I got good at it and after a while I had asked for a job where I was learning and they gave me a job. I stayed on, selling the pottery I made and that is how it all began. I never actually thought I was going to be an artist,” he admits.
Bromley, a father to five children, says that being able make art for a living is like a fairytale to him.
He also points out that his decision to switch from being a potter to a painter was a simple one. Bromley remembers that he walked into an art supply store one day and decided he wanted to try painting.
“I started painting slowly since I was still doing pots. People saw my works and they liked it. From there, I was offered an exhibition,” says Bromley, who can pride himself with work that is enduringly figurative, daringly coloured and executed.
“I needed something to keep me busy and art, it has an undefinable outcome. So I was doing something all the time.”
Bromley, who is now married to fashion designer Yuge Yu, has collaborated with various projects around the world, including developers and restaurants. They also