Artist's Statement from the Jackman Exhibition, June 2010.

"Of course it is a very peculiar occupation. This continual disassembly & reinvention of the fabric of our experience. Searching for a narrative line to make a sort of sense of the maddeningly complex world around us. Whether we laugh, cry or merely flip the finger & head for the hills. I aim for an art of passion, exorcism & sometimes just plain mischief. I enjoy & respect craft and an understanding of technique in painting & drawing, believing that a certain level of virtuosity & skill can only intensify an experience. Perhaps it's all just a novel or movie in waiting, some allegorical slipstream to give Dante a run for his money."

He had previously exhibited in Melbourne in 1972 at the Warehouse Galleries in Richmond and, according to some, provided one of the most memorable and notorious openings of the time.

John then moved to Europe and lived for twelve years in the Catalan village of Ortedo, deep in the Spanish Pyrenees, exhibiting in Barcelona during the dying days of the Franco regime.

He later showed in Amsterdam and Munich, exhibiting with Dali, Vasarely, Magritte and Fontana before a critically acclaimed exhibition at the Stedelijk Museum, Alkmaar. Despite forthcoming contracted exhibitions, family circumstances meant a reluctant return to Australia.

Through the mid-eighties and nineties he moved into book illustration and became involved with art education in schools. Over the last four years John has returned to full-time art.

In May 2010, he exhibited a second, more complete showing of ' Bluebeard's Castle ' at the Kingston Arts Centre. It included previously unseen work and as a coda, 'The Don's Last Tale ', a large watercolour on the theme of ' Don Giovanni '. To open the exhibition, Associate Professor Thomas Reiner, head of the Monash University Conservatorium of Music, presented an introduction and explanation of the themes & motives presented in Bartok's opera.

An exhibition of new and recent work was held from the 16th of June until the 4th of July, 2010 at the Jackman Gallery, Melbourne. Though due to inimical differences, the artist has since discontinued any further representation.

In November 2010, three pieces from ' Fortune's Favour ', an ongoing series based around Melbourne musician, Kerri Simpson, were shown at ' Public Hanging XIII ', held at the Methodist Ladies College, Kew.From the 18th of November until the 9th of December 2011, ' Public Hanging XIV ' will be exhibiting work from the ' Bathtub ' series - a gentle homage to a favourite painter, Brett Whiteley..

2010 'Gauguin in Despair',
Oil & mixed media on board & canvas
140 x 237 cm