André Piguet is an artist who makes art intuitively. Painting, sketching, sculpture, collage can all exist in works simultaneously. Andre is able to thrive on the unexpected and his best work stems from experimentation.
Walking into André Piguet’s latest exhibition at Ryan Renshaw Gallery takes an unexpected direction: the gallery is filled with water splashed pool screens, exploding potted palms and a mesmerizingly simple and pared back painting covering the back wall.
This simplicity is contrasted by Piguet’s highly detailed drawings: tiny in size, they take months to complete, but rather than present them with the poise their intricacy might deserve, Andre surrounds them with imagery taken from popular culture until you are no longer sure if you’re looking at a drawing or an image pulled from another source.
“I’ve developed a strong interest in the way disparate modes of artistic production and material play can converge to create new networks. – Networks are a very key idea. Most of the work thus far has a catalyst in an image. These images are either meticulously produced of bluntly reduced, and I’m interested in the worlds that can be created when this dualism is brought together.” André Piguet, June 2012.
André Piguet was born in Auckland, grew up on the Gold Coast and now lives and works in Melbourne, Australia. He graduated from Bachelor Fine Art from RMIT in 2012. Recent solo shows include VVVVVV GWEEEEEN at TCB art inc, Melbourne, SHAPE TASTER at BUS Projects, Melbourne and PIPED DUPE at Tristian Koenig, Melbourne. He was shortlisted for the RBS emerging artist award last year and recipient of the Lipman Karas Acquisitive Award.
GUPPY JUNGLE runs from 27 June to 21 July.
