JOSHUA BONSON - SKIN
JOSHUA BONSON
SKIN, 2020
120 x 100 cm
Synthetic Polymer Paint on Canvas
REGION
Darwin
PROVENANCE
Direct from the artist, Darwin, NT
Cooee Art Leven, NSW
STORY
“Skin is a celebration of my family’s totem, The Saltwater Crocodile and my personal view of the world. Even though I live in the Northern Territory, part of my heritage comes from the Torres Strait and creating this work is my way of trying to represent my skins affiliations and my place there.
The armoured skin of the reptile is shown by the built-up serrations of the paint, applied by hand or directly from the tube... It is a close-up of a reptile’s skin, and a landscape both seen from a distance and up-close. Thick layers of blues and aqua represent the sea; shades of burnt orange and ochre create the details of rocks and sand reflecting country.
Everything is connected, the land, the water and us. Like the Crocodile we are saltwater people with an ancient lineage.
There’s movement, texture, water, hints of ochre / yellow and the sea. Become part of the work... Run your fingers across the surface..."
Joshua Bonson
ARTIST PROFILE