Opens on Mar 9 until Mar 31, 2024

Backroom  | 41

Ian Thomas

 PEARL PRINCIPLE 

 

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 Pearls, beads, crystals on linen. 45 X 61cm. 2021 


This work is firstly a kickback against being told not to play with my mum's jewellery box as a queer kid and secondly a celebration of the lustre of pearls, formed in response to an irritant. "The pearl principle - no inner irritation, no pearl" (Surya Das) is a perfect metaphor for contemporary queer community - creating beauty through adversity.
In a 20+ year career, Ian Thomas has staged 21 solo exhibitions and had work in numerous group shows in Australia and internationally. Career highlights include a residency/solo show at Factory49 Paris, a public commission for the Newtown Art Seat for Mardi Gras 2019, being a finalist in the Churchie Emerging Art Prize and receiving a highly commended award in the 2022 and 2023 Art Edit Self-Represented Art Prizes. He volunteered as Gallery Manager at Factory49 from 2010-11.

Artist profile

Instagram | @ianthomasart
Email | ian@ianthomasart.com.au
Website | www.ianthomasart.com.au
$1500