South Australian artist Jungle Phillips is having his first solo exhibition in NSW at Artereal Gallery, 747 Darling Street, Rozelle, NSW, Australia from Dec 2-19.
The exhibition will be opened by Professor Colin Rhodes, Dean of Sydney College of The Arts, during the preview evening from 6-8 pm, Wednesday December 2.
Jungle is an “Outsider” artist, who lives with schizophrenia. His prolific painting practice and almost obsessive need to express him-self leads him to paint on a fascinating variety of surfaces from timber off-cuts and old kitchen trays, to more traditional canvases and timber panels.
Despite great tragedies in his life, such as being involved in a hit and run accident in 1999 and watching his brother shoot himself in 1978, Jungle’s work is a bright, optimistic, colourful and cheerful reflection of his inner spirit and charismatic charm. Complete with phonetic texts and a bug eyed cast of characters, some from his imagination, some real, his work is full of energy and spirit.
“I Love to Paint and Become the Picture. I lose myself often when Painting. Wichis all the Time…I’m a Troo ARTIST and Postative THAT WHAT the messages Reveal”
Jungle Phillips 2009
Jungle’s house is one big studio, with floor to ceiling pictures – inside and outside. He loves to talk about and share his paintings with visitors. His art is his life and his life, both inner and outer, is expressed in his art. He is a colourful character and is a celebrity in his home town of Adelaide. Jungle will be present at the launch of the exhibition from 6-8 pm Wed, Dec 2, 2009.
“Self-Taught and Outsider Art (the terms are often interchangeable) is recognisable for its directness of communication, its openness, and its intense humanity. Though there is no single ‘outsider’ style. It is produced by people in some way excluded from the conditions of production, training, writing and markets that make up the mainstream artworld. The field is made up of a mixture of socially and culturally marginal figures who embrace or inhabit unconventional or eccentric world-views. Sometimes these creators occupy cultural positions that seem radically different to prevailing social norms, and often (though by no means always) they live with diagnosed mental health conditions.”
Prof Colin Rhodes 2009
Jungle has been assisted with funding from the Richard Llewellyn Arts and Disability Trust supporting projects that celebrate the creative and artistic aspirations of South Australians with disabilities.
Jungle will be in Sydney from 2 – 5 December and is available in Adelaide for interviews before and after these dates.
Please do not hesitate to contact me any time with enquiries and requests for interviews, high res images and more bio and background information
[email protected]
Artereal was founded in March 2006 and is housed in a restored 1890s heritage fire station building in Sydney’s inner west.
Artereal has been established as a space for contemporary art with a focus on exhibitions with significant international content and heavy curatorial influence.
Artereal represents mid career and established artists while providing exhibition opportunities for emerging artists.
Exhibitions include: photography, painting, sculpture, drawing, video, print making and installation, with an exciting and varied program of curated group and solo exhibitions.
Artereal Gallery
747 Darling Street
Rozelle
NSW 2039
Contact: Cash Brown
E: [email protected]
T: +61 2 98187473
