Previous Art Hub Exhibitors

Fred Bullen | Mark Pryor | Ainslie Ivin-Smith | Eleanor Anson |  Myrna Komar | Karyn Brenton | Simone Atkins | Laura Macdonald | Christine Witchard | Roger Gifkins | Don Gentle | Gemma Stylz | Gail Sue | Robyn Jackson | Chris Austin | Deb Broughton | Jen Hetherington| Kathy Edwards | Jason Ridgeway | Jill Cairns | Verqelle Fisher | Denise McDermott | Harold Le Jeune | Terri Maddock | Linda Lockyer | Patrick Indo

Chris Austin

31st August - 11th September

Chris Austin brings an exciting and current exhibition to our Coastline Art Hub this fortnight.

"Mankind has employed masks for as long as mankind has existed. They’ve been used for disguise, for the invocation of spirits, for entertainment, for protection from miasma, and more recently for protection from COVID 19.

I have been making masks, on and off for about twenty years. My interest started with the leather half masks used in the Commedia dell’Arte, an Italian theatrical form that flourished between the C16th and C18th and had a resurgence in late C20th which thrives to this day. One of my contacts for Commedia masks lives in Ubud, Bali and it was while visiting him in 2012 that I was introduced to some of the great mask makers of that island. Balinese masks are in many ways quite different to Commedia masks; they’re made of wood rather than leather and hold a deep spiritual significance for the wearer. My masks are made from papier mache but like Balinese masks, require many layers of paint and sanding back to achieve the desired finish. They are of performance quality and are indeed intended to be “played”.

The dozen or so masks that comprise this presentation appeared almost uninvited. I usually try not to not overthink when working preferring to allow the piece to go where it will but these babies really do seem to have minds of their own. With hindsight I fancy that all the bewilderment and anxiety that I’ve been harbouring over the political and social state of humanity in general and the events of the last six months in particular have found voice in paper and glue".