CREATING METAPHOR SERIES

The Metaphor Series is a long journey of discovering my artistic style and identity. I took a road trip to understand how this moment in my life differs from other periods. I realised then that the freedom of expression is more than just a phrase. It is the sense of freely flowing in your mind and trying not to rationalise every thought. Why can't any thought or idea mean anything and be whatever it is? Once I realised that I don't need to be 'loud' to express myself, could I start the real journey of discovering my passions through the creative 'process' itself. I believe that when you do something from a place of a free state of mind, you don’t need to be loud and 'overlap'. Charles Hinman, a great living artist who I had the privilege to be taught by, used to often remind me of that.

Creative process

I started learning more about Japanese ink techniques, and my idea for the series evolved. I felt comfortable enough to start the series using Japanese ink and a knife without a brush like I always do - I liked how it created an effect of multidimensional space and figures. I was thinking about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and imaging done back in the days.

I wanted to tell a story behind the series creation and documented the first steps in the process, the different words, techniques, and mediums in my notebook.

Melbourne coast

The landscape blended all in one the sky, the ocean, and the sand, which I pictured in black and white colours.

The photos were taken 10 years ago in my old Nikon D camera at night-time in Bushwick, Brooklyn. For a long time, I wanted to create a series with them and often wondered if I'm ready to make a leap and do something very different from what I did in the past. I felt that I'm ready for change, and I had the urge to move in a different direction, touch and approach the canvas differently. I've always done large scales paintings in the past, which is unusual for an artist starting out, but I needed to express all my emotions and be 'loud', as I felt I had a lot to say.

I then practiced the technique on paper discovering the strokes and knife as an artistic tool.

That’s how the Metaphor Series was born.

The first work was about AI robotics entering the unknown space and time - Moon Night.

Oil and Japanese ink strokes and knife on canvas.

Two of Us were followed by entry to the unknown; suddenly one more subject was created.

Oil Japanese ink strokes on canvas.

Enlightenment

conveys the thought that everything is possible if we're open to the possibilities. The two separate fragments are an idea and a human. It's like a mirror with a reflection of us as robots and robots that we call humans.

Labyrinth

was created by two single ink strokes vertically and two single strokes horizontally just by moving the canvas. Labyrinth takes you to another dimension.

Another Dimension

captures ancient times, the pyramids, the codes of the universe and the sun hat.

Four of Us

is about how we can grow in time and space.

The Beauty of Existence

captures the beauty and art of just being in the moment and allowing yourself to feel the warmth of all living species.

ILONA AVART - THE METAPHOR SERIES