Embracing the alchemy of art
Dean Shirriffs’ art never stays still and like the Wanganui River, which he has been working beside, you never quite know what will happen next.
An exhibition of the Palmerston North artist’s paintings will open this week and while living in Whanganui he started a whole new ‘‘landscape and abstractinspired investigation’’. Known for his artistic alchemy, setting paint on fire, leaving his works in all sorts of weather and mixing mediums, Shirriffs uses a process of layering and distressing.
Shirriffs also uses heat guns and flame torches, altering the viscosity of the paint. He said a lot of what he does was about using the elements. ‘‘This time I have been messing around with wind and gravity, and what those things do – so putting in a line of ink and then going outside and throwing it like a Frisbee and trying to figure out what angles the motion. Depending on the breeze, some would float up higher and over and end up jammy side down, and some would float through the air and be fine.’’
Inspired by ancient architectural spaces that have been gathering places, or sites of communication and ‘‘black holes to let the spirit in and out’’, Shirriffs said his process was ‘‘warlock and witchy’’.
‘‘Like any critter who enjoys the dark arts, slowly you get better at knowing less.’’
Shirriffs has been testing out different tools to see how they can work in his practice. A dremel is his latest – a tool usually used to sand, etch, polish and cut. In his paintings, Shirriffs said he used it in all sorts of ways. ‘‘It’s interesting finding ways of pouring on, taking off, burning off and washing off.’’
A Communication, by Dean Shirriffs, opens at the Snails artist-run space on November 3 and will feature Wellington band French for Rabbits.