John Douglas

A Fairly Useful Map, Also Showing the Limitations of Immortality

I try and observe and experience the inner life of what is about – and to convey this in my art with as few subjective filters as possible. To open all the doors and windows and let the work dictate what it wants to be to some extent, then combine this intuitive process with an application of technical skills and knowledge.

What do colours mean – and does the meaning of one colour change when placed next to another colour? Can the position alone of a mark within a composition contain information? Can the relationships of these marks to each other carry further meanings?

I don’t like to think of this approach as so-called “spiritual” art. I see it as attempting to express reality.

www.JohnDouglasArt.com

John Douglas

John Douglas decided he wanted to be an artist and immediately began painting at the age of 8, and has never had any misgivings about his decision to follow the artistic path. He studied at the Queensland College of Art until his expulsion in 1984 for being a “disruptive and disturbing influence”.

He has had many group and solo exhibitions in Australia and around the world. His international solo exhibitions include shows in France, USA, Thailand, Malaysia and China. His drawings were exhibited as part of the 2010 Outsiders Art Festival in Adelaide.

Douglas worked as the Visual Arts Director for the QAF Arts Festival in 1999. He has campaigned and advocated for people with HIV as well as disadvantaged children.

He has been a teaching consultant in art therapy at a psychiatric hospital, and occasionally conducts specialty self-expression art workshops. In 2004 he was invited as Artist in Residence to conduct painting workshops at Lockhart River Aboriginal Community, Cape York, Australia.

John Douglas was one of twelve artists internationally to be given an Inspiration Award in 2010 for his photograph 'Imagine' for World Peace Day in the USA. This photo took part in a touring exhibition throughout the USA and has since inspired Peace murals in Los Angeles and Sierra Leone.

His films have featured in international film festivals. In 2010 Douglas won the International Outrate Short Film Festival for his film 'Ward 9'. The film ‘Twelve Black Horses’ was screened on one hundred screens worldwide as part of the Digital Fringe Festival, 2010. Three of the paintings featured in the film ‘Twelve Black Horses’ will be displaying in the 2011 Outsiders Art Festival.

www.JohnDouglasArt.com

John Douglas

Australian artist John Douglas has received acclaim and caused controversy at home and internationally. His expulsion from Queensland College of Art confirmed his “disruptive and disturbing influence” and initiated a flourish in his artistic career. A seven-time solo exhibitor for Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, John has also exhibited solo and in group shows and film festivals throughout Australia, and had one-man exhibits in Paris, Bangkok, Istanbul, Shanghai, Singapore, Malaysia, Macau and Fort Lauderdale.

John has been a teaching consultant in art therapy at Glenside Psychiatric Hospital in Adelaide and conducts self-expression art workshops. In 2004, he served as Artist in Residence at the famed Lockhart River Aboriginal Community.

With a strong belief in art as therapy and art being primarily about personal expression and growth, John undertook a visit to the Collection de L'Art Brut in Lausanne, Switzerland, and moderates the Raw Art group on art website redbubble. He occasionally teaches art self-expression workshops for specialty groups.

A 2009 US tour brought his work to venues across the country, including Atlanta’s Museum of Design; MOCA Washington; Laconia Gallery, Boston; Chicago Art Source Gallery, Chicago; and LA Center For Digital Art.

Currently he is working on several film/music projects.

www.JohnDouglasArt.com

www.redbubble.com/people/johndouglas