Aaron Kinnane

Lives & Works — Newcastle (Awabakal)

A restless explorer in the landscape, Kinnane is constantly searching for moments in his vision that allow him to morph the landscape from the representation of place, to a more meditative landscape of the mind. His practice is vital and visually dynamic—moving across the canvas in powerful swathes—playing with the viscosity of paint. The artist entices the audience to enter his world.

There is a sense of vastness to Kinnane’s work. Even smaller studies have an epic quality, larger works full of awe. He uses the landscape—setting it as a metaphor for humanity with all our concerns and possibilities. Hope and beauty pervade throughout the picture plane with a palette that is restricted, yet, vibrant when required.

As an artist, Kinnane draws on influence from masters such as JMW Turner where the sweeping, enthralling qualities of Turner’s work is recaptured in his own. Large marks of palette knife and brush stir us into an emotive state where we are reminded of the sheer beauty and visceral energy of landscape. We are transported through Kinanne’s marks recalling memories of place.

Spiritually, there is a debt to the Chinese ink brush masters—the terraced Chinese landscape tradition; one that looks for order in the landscape thus creating a harmony—not only in composition but ideally, in the physical world—for the viewer.

Kinnane has exhibited widely across Australia and overseas. He has been a finalist in various art prizes including the prestigious Wynne Prize (2015), Tattersall's Landscape Art Prize (2017, 2016, 2015, 2014) and the NSW Parliament Plein Air Painting Prize (2016).