Crossing Country, Ed Koumans, 2009

E D WA R D K O U M A N S

1500 mm

250 mm

POINTS OF VIEW c o n t e m p o r a r y

l a n d s c a p e s

L e n o r e H O W A R D .E d w a r d K O U M A N S .A l l y s o n R E Y N O L DS KickArts is supported by the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy, an initiative of the Australian, State and Territory Governments.

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CROSSING COUNTRY

24/2/09 1:33:30 PM

E D WA R D K O U M A N S Edward Koumans creates a landscape that is both intriguing and enticing, with his typical quirky sense of style and humour. Koumans states that “…my work is based on bringing the human element into the landscape by combining assemblage, found objects and the painted surface...” The assemblage pieces are made up of the ‘found landscape.’

Koumans describes his assemblage pieces as the inland identity. The assemblages resemble the combination of colonial and the tourist kitsch.

The large dolls with Emu feathers are an extension of his previous smaller wrapped doll works and he comments that they are “…representational of moving across the landscape.” As a departure from the flat canvas, Koumans wanted to create a contemporary aspect to the landscape by sculpting the canvas, “…I wanted to give movement to the landscape by folding and sculpting the painted surface.”

Kristin Tennyson 2009.

This page. Left: Crossing Country I, Emu feathers, gypsona, acrylic paint, dimensions variable, 2009. (detail.) Right: Crossing Country II, found legs, objects and twigs, 1400 x 890 x 560 mm, 2009. Facing page. Top L: Diptych I, bitumen over acrylic on canvas, 610 x 760 mm, 2009. Top R: Diptych II, bitumen over acrylic on canvas, 610 x 755 mm, 2009.

Centre: Landscape, bitumen over acrylic on canvas, 758 x 1020 mm, 2009. (detail.)

Bottom L to R: Landscape 1, Landscape 2, Landscape 3, Landscape 4, bitumen over acrylic on canvas, 940 x 1040 x 100 mm each, 2009. Photography Michael Marzik.

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24/2/09 1:33:56 PM