Stand Watch

Matt Coyle

Opening: 2pm, Saturday 14 December 2024

Exhibition: December 2024 – November 2025

Courtyard Commission, Contemporary Art Tasmania

“I knew that this commission would give me free rein to explore a theme I keep returning to: the idea of an inner landscape. The challenge of time was against me and I’m normally a slow worker, so I decided to start with large silhouettes. The silhouettes became the framework for the paintings and allowed me to build their individual inner worlds, and in turn, their collective world, standing watch in the CAT courtyard.

When starting new work I am primarily driven by aesthetics. I love combining elements where I instinctively sense an amorphous connection. I first look at objects I have collected that are scattered around my studio. They tend to start a conversation, so to speak, and that conversation leads to the process of composition, which I regard as essentially problem solving. I love this part of the process. Normally I allow the ideas to percolate over time, with the luxury to ponder over new artworks between paintings. With this series though, I have had to tap into ideas and imagery on the fly – literally the day that I started each silhouette – and the amalgamation of visual material has been more instinctive – or automatic. It has resulted in work that feels more primal than anything I’ve done before.

Due to the scale of the work and the time constraints, I needed to work intuitively and experimentally. It’s allowed me to be a bit freer, more forgiving, and to let chance and instinct take centre stage. In the shift from drawing to painting, I’ve struggled to settle on a single style or way of painting when so many methods interest me. For this body of work, I’ve focused on fantasy, popular culture and mysticism, so it makes sense to combine a wide range of painting styles. The large, disparate figures stand watch. They grapple and converse with one another within the communal space of the courtyard.”

— Matt Coyle

Artist bio

Matt Coyle grew up on Ngunnawal Country, Canberra and has lived in Nipaluna, Hobart since 1997.

Matt works in painting, drawing, sculpture and installation, creating worlds that fold contemporary and historical imaginary in on each other, often infused with Film Noir lighting that gives his work a dark strangeness. He exhibits regularly in Melbourne, Hobart and Sydney and has appeared in group shows internationally, including The Hong Kong Art Fair and Korean International Art Fair (KIAF). His work is held in collections including the NGV, GOMA/ Queensland Art Gallery and Maitland Regional Art Gallery, and he has been commissioned to create drawings for Art and Australia and GQ Style magazines. Matt has two published graphic novels: Worry Doll (2007), Mam Tor Publishing, UK and Registry of Death (1996), Kitchen Sink Press, USA.

Matt Coyle is represented in Tasmania by Bett Gallery and in New South Wales by Nanda/ Hobbs.

Accessibility

The courtyard is mobility accessible. Please contact CAT if you have any accessibility requirements.