This work represents an organic timepiece, with each individual painting standing as an irregular measure of duration or unit of time. In working from life the self-portrait allows me to intensely observe the passing of the present, as it coincides with my reflected face. The experience of time varied within the creation of each piece. As such the work alludes to the asynchronous shape of time where each experience is relative its own frame of reference, as opposed to the universally even mechanism of Newton’s clock time.  The temporal nature of the work was only enhanced by the copper support, a material visibly sensitive to processes of change within time. Consequently the support has its own record of the negotiation that took place between my mark making and its active surface. In this case chemically enhanced by the addition of salts and acids.  Confronting the reality of my own mortality within this process becomes inevitable. I was interested in how the direct engagement of my gaze in the mirror translated into my painted self, whose gaze in turn captured the viewers. Drawing the viewer into looking closely at something that is inherently humble and vulnerable to time, which in turn reflects their own vulnerability.
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2017 2017 Archibald Prize regional tour: Geelong Gallery Murray Art Museum Albury The Black Swan Prize, The Art Gallery of Western Australia The Archibald Prize, The Art Gallery of NSW RSA Annual exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, Scotland Waverley Art Prize Finalist Exhibition Introducing V, MAY SPACE, Sydney 2016 Archibald Prize regional tour: Western Plains Cultural Centre Hawkesbury Regional Gallery Bega Valley Regional Gallery Cowra Art Gallery 2016 2016 Archibald Prize regional tour, Wagga Wagga Art Gallery Portia Geach Memorial Award, National Trust S.H. Ervin Gallery National Art School Postgraduate Exhibition 2016 Archibald Prize regional tour, Art Gallery of Ballarat Finalists Exhibition 2016 Mosman Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery The Archibald Prize, The Art Gallery of NSW Kilgour Art Prize, Newcastle Art Gallery Waverley Art Prize Finalist Exhibition Art Now Revisited, Kensington Contemporary, Chippendale Chippendale New World Art Prize (CNWAP) Exhibition, Kensington Contemporary, Chippendale, NSW The Breakthrough Art Festival, Ambush Gallery, Chippendale
2015 National Art School Postgraduate Exhibition, Darlinghurst Honours Painting Show, Library Stairwell Gallery, National Art School, Darlinghurst Another Day in Paradise, Painting from the National Art School, Darlinghurst Celebrating Art, Supporting Science, Dominik Mersch Gallery and the Centenary Institute Fundraising Event, Dominik Mersch Gallery Finalists Exhibition 2015 Mosman Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery Two works selected for The Mosman Youth Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery 2014 The John Olsen Drawing Prize finalists exhibition, National Art School, Darlinghurst The National Art School Graduate exhibition (Painting), Darlinghurst The Graduate Drawing Exhibition, The National Art School, Darlinghurst Curated exhibition Stilled Life, SEDE wine bar and restaurant, Annandale NSW
‘486’, 2017, oil, pigment, and goats milk soap on copper, 6.2 x 4.1 cm
‘552’, 2017, oil, pigment, and goats milk soap on copper, 6.2 x 4.1 cm
‘‘494’, 2017, oil, pigment, and goats milk soap on copper, 6.2 x 4.1 cm
‘528’, 2017, oil, pigment, and goats milk soap on copper, 6.2 x 4.1 cm
‘496’, 2017, oil, pigment, and goats milk soap on copper, 6.2 x 4.1 cm
‘558’, 2017, oil, pigment, and goats milk soap on copper, 6.2 x 3.8 cm
544’, 2017, oil, pigment, and goats milk soap on copper, 6.2 x 3.8 cm
‘562’, 2017, oil, pigment, and goats milk soap on copper, 6.2 x 4.1 cm
‘572’, 2017, oil, pigment, and goats milk soap on copper, 6.2 x 4.1 cm
‘610’, 2017, oil, pigment, and goats milk soap on copper, 6.2 x 4.1 cm
‘596’, 2017, oil, pigment, and goats milk soap on copper, 6.2 x 3.8 cm
‘616’, 2017, oil, pigment, and goats milk soap on copper, 6.2 x 4.1 cm
‘600’, 2017, oil, pigment, and goats milk soap on copper, 6.2 x 3.8 cm
‘636’, 2017, oil, pigment, and goats milk soap on copper, 6.2 x 4.1 cm
‘606’, 2017, oil, pigment, and goats milk soap on copper, 6.2 x 4.5 cm
‘646’, 2017, oil, pigment, and goats milk soap on copper, 6.2 x 4.1 cm
‘650’, 2017, oil, pigment, and goats milk soap on copper, 6.2 x 3.8 cm
‘658’, 2017, oil, pigment, and goats milk soap on copper, 6.2 x 3.8 cm
‘724’, 2017, oil, pigment, and goats milk soap on copper, 6.2 x 5 cm
‘788’, 2017, oil, pigment, and goats milk soap on copper, 6.2 x 3.8 cm
www.dominikmerschgallery.com 30