What do you do? I call myself an artist/metalsmith/designer; currently the focus of my practice is on fusing metalsmithing (jewellery and object design) with animation. Even though I mostly work with metals, I also use different materials such as timbers and synthetics.
When did you get into it? I started studying gold and silversmithing at the ANU School of Art in 2005. During my honours year (2007) I created pieces of jewellery that transformed into robots, which I stop-motion animated. This was the beginning of my interest in combining animation with wearable objects.
Who or what influences you as an artist? I’m influenced by a number of artistically rich sub-cultures such as Japanese anime as well as Western cartoons, comics/graphic novel and graffiti. I guess in the case of the anime, cartoons and comic I’m drawn to the narratives, but overall I’m quite compelled by strong graphic styles and line work.
What’s your biggest achievement? In 2008 I received a grant from the Australia Council for the Arts to undertake a four-month residency at the University of Applied Sciences, Düsseldorf in Germany. This was an excellent opportunity for the development of my art practice. I was also really excited about getting into this year’s Splendid Arts Lab and look forward to collaborating with the other participants.
What are your plans for the future? My plans for the future are to keep making art, continue exhibiting my work and maybe undertake post-graduate studies.
What makes you laugh? Lots of things, but for now I’ll say The Venture Brothers, which is my all time favourite cartoon.
What pisses you off? Again, lots of things, but recently it has been bad drivers and a lack of decent public transport.
What’s your opinion of the local scene? It’s good, there are a lot of opportunities out there for artists, you just have to look for them. For instance at the beginning of 2007, a couple of friends and I got permission from Urban Services to hold an exhibition called Tunnel Vision in one of Canberra’s underpasses.
Upcoming exhibitions: New Jewels from July 24 – September 18 at Workshop Bilk in Queanbeyan.
Contact info: email_lan@lycos.com
