Isolation State

The opening night of Isolation State was also, fittingly, the start of yet another lockdown in Victoria. It’s bizarre that I painted these in 2020 and a year later, there we still were.

Isolation State on display for Incube8r Gallery’s ‘Almost Solo’ show, Fitzroy. August 5, 2021.

Stemming from Melbourne’s second-wave Coronavirus lockdown, Isolation State represents the mood of Melburnians as we went about our daily hour of allowed exercise.

Headphones have long provided the wearer with a blissful sense of self-imposed isolation on the daily commute and even in the office. Through the long series of lockdowns, though, our headphones have enabled us to escape from the noisy chatter of our own minds. I’ve lost count of how many solo walks I’ve taken with podcasts playing or music blaring in an attempt to provide distraction.

Through 2020’s lockdowns, I committed to making art one day each weekend. I would bring my supplies downstairs to the dining table and then put it all back by the time we needed the table back for dinner. Some days there would be a remote life drawing session available, some days there would be other kinds of art workshops, and some days I would work on this series of artworks.

Winter Sun (2020) 10” x 8”. Mixed media on canvas.

Winter Sun (2020) 10” x 8”. Mixed media on canvas.

Waiting for a Friend (2020) 11” x 14”. Mixed media on canvas. Private Collection.

Fitzroy Freedom (2020) 11” x 14”. Mixed media on canvas. Private Collection.

Green Space (2020) 10” x 8”. Mixed media on canvas.