By Aidan Doyle
I remember quite clearly the first time I tried graffiti. I was about the age of six and had written my name in sharpie across my dad’s new shed. I then had to spend all my pocket money on paint remover, something six year old me wasn’t particularly happy about.
I didn’t realise it at the time, but this simple tag grew into something much more refined as I grew older. I dabbled in everything from cartoons to painting and as I got older I eventually found my way back to graffiti. Now I engage with everything from painting to installation work.
While this was my experience, every young artist has and will continue to have a purely unique journey. Every aspect of your life informs the way you make art. As a young person your mind is fresh with concepts and ideas that struggle to unify into your own understanding of the world. It’s often tempting to focus on one or two of these concepts and amplify them in your art. I think it’s hugely important to reflect on our unique experiences, while also recognising the intrinsic aspects that tie us all together.
Being from the west has come to inform my art practice in various ways. I think this is the same for many artists across the west. Particularly those at the beginning of their journey, whether they realise it or not.
With this in mind, my friend Mak and I began discussing the art scene across the western suburbs. We reckoned that when compared to the inner-north and eastern suburbs, the art scene in the west could be considered rather dry. We eventually formed Pulse Arts, our own artist collective with community and social justice in mind.
After many more discussions we decided a western-youth based art exhibition could be the catalyst for change. We got in contact with the Louis Joel Gallery in Altona and from there ideas began to unravel.
Occupational Truths is an exhibition which will showcase works covering a multitude of social, political and personal ideas through the perspective of young, western suburbs based artists.
We are now excitedly at the point where we are taking applications for artists who would like to exhibit with us. If you or anyone you know would be interested in displaying their art please get in contact! It doesn’t matter where in the west you’re from or how established you are as an artist, we would love to display your artwork.
Get in contact with us:
Instagram: @pulseartcollective
Email: pulseartcollective@gmail.com
