Austin Turley is all about “finding that sweet spot.” Exploring the patterns, subtleties, rhythms and various properties of different materials, Austin aims to present a series of work that extend through the two upcoming PILOTENKUECHE exhibitions.
Through collecting and exploring his physical surroundings and the objects therein, Austin aims to “investigate the system”. Curiosity is what pushes him. He tries and tests new materials to find out what they can do and how he can utilise them. Continually being spurred on by his past work, he has noticed there is a core to his practise. This core stems from his music making. Where he used to question why he picked specific notes during composition, he now asks why he picks new materials.
“Painting and working” have been a constant feature of Austin’s life.
With his mum being a painter herself, Austin found it an easy skill to acquire. It continues to be the foundation that he draws upon in his current work. Later acquiring “working” experience as a glass caster and as a stone carver, Austin familiarised himself with new tools that allow him to extensively explore the properties of the materials that he encounters.
photos by PILOTENKUECHE International Art Program
Serendipitous stones inspired him in his current work. After observing how his young son interacted with stones and gravel, Austin decided to join him in the sand pit and began collecting stones from the courtyard of his Leipzig residence. Austin sees his current work as truly a “family affair”. He collects the stones, his wife cleans them and his son inspired the whole process, .
From Leipzig to Lisbon; the PILOTENKUECHE residency will be followed by another in Portugal.
Austin is already thinking about what he will produce on his following artist residency, aiming to adjust the scale of his work to fit the different sized studio spaces. For Lisbon he will be thinking small and has already begun working on gel prints based off scans of mottled glass. These prints then produce topographical-like patterns and designs which are different with every scan. The work of this artist is clearly never done and “the more work [he] makes, the more ideas come.”
Written by Rosie Shackleton
For more work from Austin Turley visit his website, and you are welcome to the following exhibitions:
Almost Tension
vernissage:
Sat 29 Feb 2019
7PM
performance:
TBA
Alteshandelsschule
Geisserstr 75
04229 Leipzig
open:
Sun 1 Mar, Thur 5 – Sat 7 Mar
2PM-6PM
Hard Fluid Betrayal
vernissage:
Sat 21 Mar 2019
7PM
performance:
TBA
open:
Sun 22 Mar – Tue 24 Mar
2PM-6PM
PILOTENKUECHE
Franz-Flemming-Str 9
04179 Leipzig