Lesley Dickman
My work begins with a concept or idea that I sense opens a wellspring of visual possibilities, and questioning of social constructs. Using techniques to develop structure, form and dimension, I journey through a process of connection and response to the world that I am creating. This world seems to be in a continual state of flux, of metamorphous, an invention then reinvention as I search for that illusive image that gives power and strength to the concept, and opens the doors to questioning social values.
“Sometimes we artists see too much with our eyes”
Hsu Hang Hsu prefers to feel his way into his works. Forgetting tools, he uses his body to shape the clay, kneading, pressing, twisting, folding, and layering.This tactile approach is something that I relate too. Preferring to feel my way into the work and letting the materials lead combined with the process of adding and discarding, searching and discovery, the image evolves.
My influences are drawn from the German Expressionist movement of the forties and later the large figurative painters such as Anselm Keifer and George Baselitz in the eighties. In his large monumentally artworks Keifer used materials such as lead, straw, found objects, wood, and sand to name a few, and combined historical references that confronted a dark German history. Often the materials themselves are a guide to the artwork I make. The softness of fabric , the embedded history in bones, the chemistry of salt, or the immediacy of being able to change the image with paint or pastel are all part of the physical and the spiritual essence that bring the artwork to life.
Education
Bachelor of Fine Art, Monash university, 1981 1984
Graphic Art, Swinburne Technical College 1964 to 1967
Philosophy Latrobe University (unit of post graduate diploma of art) 1994
12 months residency St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne 2008
Open Studio Guildford Lane Gallery August 2009
Solo Shows
‘Haunted Beauty’ Tacit Galleries, Collingwood, 2023
‘Flight’ Tacit Galleries, Collingwood, September 2023
‘Still Life/ Food for Thought’, Tacit Galleries, Collingwood, 2022
‘Homage to Small Girls’, Tacit galleries, Collingwood, 2021
‘Heartbeat’ drawing and sculpture, Tacit Galleries, Collingwood 2019
‘Salt and the Dress 3’ Tacit Galleries, Collingwood May 2018
‘Yarra Dreamscape’ Tacit Galleries, Collingwood, December 2017
‘Artifacts’ Linden Gate Gallery, Yarra Glen March 2017
Installation ‘Who Defines Me’ Tacit Galleries, Richmond, Dec. 2014
Installation, ‘Sand Pit’, Walkers St. Galleries, Dandenong, February 2013
Installation ‘Salt and the Dress 3’, Swan Hill Regional Gallery, Swan Hill October 2012
Installation, ‘Salt and the Dress 3’ Walker St. Gallery, Dandenong November 2011
Cambridge Studio Gallery, Collingwood ‘Salt and the Dress 2’ May 2010
St Vincent’s Hospital Gallery, Melbourne recent paintings April 2010
Cambridge Studio Gallery, Collingwood, ‘Salt and the Dress’ paintings, October 2009
Installation, Guildford Lane Gallery, Melbourne ‘Salt and the Dress 2’ June 2009
Installation Guildford Lane Gallery, Melbourne “Salt and the Dress”, November 2008
‘Pathways’ Goya Gallery, Dockland, Melbourne 2006
‘Slow Motion’ Goya Gallery, Southbank, Melbourne, 2003
‘Recent Works’, Goya Gallery, Latrobe St., Melbourne, 2000
‘Connecting Separate Worlds/ Body Parts’ Helen Gory Gallery Prahran 1999
‘The Nature of Change’ The Steps Gallery, Carlton,1996
‘Shelters in Time’ The Steps Gallery, Carlton,1993
Foyer of the institute of management, St Kilda, [through Linden Gallery] 1993
Still Life invitation prize, Tacit Galleries 2022
Still Life invitation prize, Tacit Galleries, 2021
Waverley Woolahra 9×5 cm landscape invitation prize 2021
Waverley Woolahra 9×5 cm Landscape invitation prize 2020
Wyndham invitation prize works on paper 2018
Yering Station Sculpture Exhibition and Awards, Invitation Prize 2014
She, Invitation Prize, Walker St Gallery Dandenong 2014
John Leslie Art Prize, Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale, [invitation prize] 2004
‘Art Now’, Darebin Biennale, exhibition of contemporary visual art group, 2000
Contemporary works, Invitation prize, Williamstown Arts Festival 1996
Invitation Acquisition Prize, Linden Gallery, St Kilda, 1989
Essendon Arts Festival Exhibition – Awarded acquisition prize for Best Contemporary work.
St Vincent’s Hospital permanent collection (cultural gift program)
Private collections In Australia, and America and Ja
Invitation Art Award
‘Summer Salon’ Tacit Galleries, Collingwood,
‘Costume”’ Tacit Galleries, Collingwood, November 2022
20 (2020)” Tacit Galleries Collingwood March 2020
SALT body Arts Mildura September 2019
Drawing show “Line”, Tacit Galleries, March 2018
“Salt and the Dress” paintings Lte Bourke St. 2017
9×5 Exhibition Walker St Gallery, Dandenong December 2016
Fragile Couture, Melbourne Fashion Festival Cultural program, Yarra Ranges Arts, March 2014
9 x 5 exhibition, Walker St. Gallery, Dandenong December 2013
Three Stories Gallery, Healesville “Salt and the Dress” 2011
Dress Installation, Three Stories Gallery, Healesville, May 2010
Exhibition of works, Brennon Hall St Vincent’s, Melbourne 2008 -2010
St Vincent’s Gallery, Melbourne, 2008
Women’s Art Register, ‘Genetics’ Horti Hall Gallery, Melbourne 2004
Drawing show, ‘Straw Hills,’ Hogan’s Gallery Fitzroy, 2003
‘Crossing the Line’, Wiregrass Gallery, Eltham, 2003
Small Canvases Exhibition, Queensland 2001
Goya Gallery, Latrobe St., Melbourne 2001
Goya Gallery, Latrobe St., Melbourne. 2000
Goya Gallery, Latrobe St., Melbourne 1999
Yume Ya gallery, ‘Contemporary approaches to Collage’, Fitzroy 1997
Spoleto Fringe, Brunswick, 1987
Spoleto Fringe, Brunswick, 1986
Sculpture show for Tertiary Colleges, National Gallery Victoria, 1981
Performance
Performance, at Monsalvat poetry festival and Ballarat Poets Society, 1988
Performed in ‘The Studio’ Arts Centre, movement drama by Deborah Hay, ‘Milk of The Cipher,’
Group Show
Costume, Catalogue, 2022
Still Life/ Food for Thought, Catalogue 2022
Salt Body catalogue, Arts Mildura, 2020
The Age by Robert Nelson “Three shows that put place in the frame”.
Lilydale and Yarra Ranges Leader, “Fragile Couture” March 2014
Dandenong Leader, “Conflict in Beauty”, November 2011
Radio Interview, Neil Wanstall, 3WBC FM, November 2011
Melbourne Leader, ‘Salt and elegance combine in work,’ August 2009
Woman’s Art Register, The Bulletin, ‘GENETICS’, 2004
Herald Sun, ‘Critics Choice’, Jeff Makin August 2000
Northcote Leader, ‘Creator’, August 2000
Yarra Valley Post, ‘First time Solo’, November 1993
Melbourne Times, ‘Hip hip hooray for a dinkum touch of Fringe’ 1986
Melbourne Age ‘ Spoleto Art’, Gary Catalano 1986
Publications
Scenic Studios working as a scenic artist on production for Australian ballet, Victoria State Opera, and Musical productions.1985 – 1995.
Employed as free-lance artist for world Expo 1988, and theatre organizations such as Melbourne Theatre Company, Circus Oz, Alexander Theatre, and Anthill Theatre Company. 1988 to 1991