Kaleidoscope

East meets west in Redsea Gallery’s stunning exhibition Kaleidoscope, featuring the striking works of acclaimed Melbourne artists Zhong Chen and Bruce Earles.

Zhong Chen, a three time finalist on the Archibald Prize was born in China in 1969 and came to Australia aged 19, where he attained a Bachelor of Visual Arts at University of SA before heading to London and achieving a Masters of Fine Art at the Chelsea School of Art.

His artwork is a reflection of his Chinese-Australian identity, with Chinese ink-brush paintings, folk art prints, Ming and Qing porcelain and paper cuts having an influence while the fluid and hybrid nature of his identity is characterized by the calligraphic brushstrokes and peacefulness of his paintings.

On the western front the influence of pop art comes into play with Lichtenstein and Warhol the inspiration behind his technique of colour application.
As well as his Archibald achievements Zhong has been a finalist in the Wynne, Sulman and Doug Moran prizes and in 2009 was awarded the People’s Choice Award for the Salon des Refuses Prize.

Bruce Earles hails from cosmopolitan Melbourne, where he was born in 1953 and took up painting in the 1980s. His colourful childlike works are inspired by an unbridled celebration of urban life and characterized by intricate toylike worlds seen from above.

It’s impossible not to be cheered by his art, which he describes as taking a birds-eye view of the urban landscape – its nature, human movement and settlement - for which he has a boundless enthusiasm.

The style, for which he is well-recognized, came about at Roar Studios, where he spent time from 1983-87 and after undertaking formal training and becoming a Doctor of Creative Arts at the University of Western Sydney in 2002, has remained his signature.

In his 30 year career Bruce has exhibited extensively in Australia and overseas – in New York, Washington, Seattle, Shanghai, Beijing and Tokyo - and in 2000 was awarded the prestigious New York Pollock Krasner Foundation for Art.

About Redsea Gallery

Redsea Gallery was first established in Singapore in 2001 and quickly became one of Singapore's most visited and happening galleries. In 2008 its first international venture opened here in Brisbane by British owner Lee Steer and since then the stunning 300 sqm gallery has firmly established itself as a mecca for Australian and international contemporary art. Today Redsea represents a stable of award-winning artists from Australia and New Zealand.

Redsea Gallery is a valued sponsor of Must Do Brisbane.