Bacskay.net

A new portrait of titled “Defiant” and featuring the artist’s musical alter-ego, Lix Bacskay, marks the artist’s first entry into the Southern Hemisphere’s most coveted art award – The Archibald Prize.

“Defiant” Oil over acrylic on canvas, 101×101cm by Alex Bacskay © 2010…

In what could be described as a self portrait with a twist, “Defiant” tells the story of the inspirational connection between Lix (frontwoman for Australian rock band Medollic) and her maternal grandmother who served in the Royal Observer Corps in WWII. Above Lix’ bed hangs a sketch of a Swallow by her grandmother, Alison Hope Margaret Nicol, who died on June 1st 2002. She left behind her a legacy of self belief and an ever expanding capacity for imagination in her young artist granddaughter. The silhouette of the aptly named Boulton Paul ‘Defiant’ WWII fighter plane, stretching it’s wings across the canvas, was taken directly from a page in the ROC WWII Aircraft Identification Handbook from the early 1940s.

Entries for the the Archibald Prize closed today, finalists are announced on March 17th 2010.

For those who braved the hoards at the 2009 Royal Brisbane Exhibition, you may recognise this piece. This recent painting by Alex Bacskay titled “I AM” (a fairly blatant tribute to Colin McCahon) measures 2.2m high and was painted live from start to finish before the daily crowds visiting the “Ekka”. The work conceptually explores the Q150 theme “Our People, Our Places, Our Stories”. From the artists perspective that meant championing the rich multicultural tapestry that is makes Queensland such a vibrant and creative state.

“I AM” has now been purchased by Arts QLD for their “Art+Place” Public Collection!

Apologies to anyone that has attempted to send a message via the form on the contact page. It has just been discovered to be malfunctioning, and unfortunately messages haven’t been getting through for the last few weeks, even when they’ve appeared to have been successfully sent.

Problem solved, and the form is working properly again now, so if you haven’t got a response from a message you have sent, please send it again!

Yet another plug for Minus Canvas 3. Brisbane’s MX newspaper, with a circulation of over 40,000 copies hitting approximately 130,000 readers every day… so they say…

A couple of photos taken at Jugglers today, setting up for Minus Canvas 3.

Had a fun photo shoot for MX Newspaper. QLD Newspapers’ photographer Adam Smith had me pulling some crazy poses, with a large painting tucked under one arm, balancing on one leg…! The article should be out in tomorrow’s MX issue, so if you’re in the city try and get your hands on copy!

Friends, patrons and curators are invited to view works from the new painting series, “An Ode to World Peace”, on exhibition at Minus Canvas 3 opening 6pm Friday July 3rd at Jugglers Art Space (103 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane).

Please feel free to forward the invitation below on to other interested parties. You are welcome to bring friends and family to the Minus Canvas 3 opening reception.

For those who are out of the Brisbane area or unable to attend, please feel free to email info@bacskay.net for a digital preview of the new work, and information on pre-sales.

You would be misled to assume by the title of this post that I’ve launched a career in politics, or poetry. It is perhaps more likely that this new series of works may toy with with both, aesthetically and conceptually, while brush remains firmly in hand, as does tongue in cheek.

The first of the new series, entitled “An Ode to World Peace: Vol 1″, is underway. These are adventures in elongated portrait format, in oil, on board. A progress shot can be viewed below, and the finished works will be exhibited at Jugglers Art Space (Brisbane) in the Minus Canvas 3 exhibition opening Friday July 3rd. More info about the exhibition will be posted shortly.

Below are a series of progress shots along with the finished painting. Commissioned earlier this year, the work is now complete and is on it’s way to be hung in Canterbury, NZ.

Dave & Jennifer Hoare’s beautiful and somewhat theatrical Leonberger, “Shedor”, found her way out of the canvas and into stage light and faerie dust. The commission request from the patrons was that the composition pivoted on an interplay between Shedor, in her “Nana” costume bonnet retained from her role on stage in Christchurch Repertory Theatre’s production of Peter Pan, and an element from the Peter Pan story. And, in flew Tink…

The completed work has also been uploaded to the “Latest Work” and “Other Portraits” galleries.

James Jameson, Le Cafe providore, owner of the famous “Lincoln” and of his likeness on canvas, has recently put to print a beautiful series of greeting cards, postcards and bookmarks featuring the Lincoln painting (Oil on Canvas Alex Bacskay 2006).

The printed series (below) is available for sale individually and in packs at Le Cafe at The Art Centre in Christchurch, NZ. Proceeds go to Dogwatch, the animal rescue organisation that saved Lincoln many years ago.

The print on the cards reads as follows:

LINCOLN

LE CAFÉ   ARTS CENTRE   CHRISTCHURCH    NEW ZEALAND

Lincoln was rescued from the city pound’s “death row” in the spring of 1998, at the age of
around 10 months, by Dog Watch, a Christchurch volunteer dog rescue organisation. It is
generally agreed that he is a Boxer/Rottwheiler cross, with maybe a touch of Labrador for good
measure. Certainly his temperament reflects the best qualities of all these breeds. Over the years
from his home at Le Café, human language not presenting any difficulties, Lincoln has met and
made friends with literally thousands of visitors from around the world. Few countries on earth
will be without at least one home where a souvenir shot of Lincoln at Le Café in Christchurch
brings back a happy holiday memory.

All profits from the sale of this card are donated to Dogwatch Sanctuary Trust:
dogwatch@raider.co.nz

LINCOLN 2006 ALEX BACSKAY
“Lincoln” 2006, oil on canvas, 760mm X 1520mm
www.bacskay.net

For the millions of travelers and kiwis alike who have visited the Christchurch Art Centre, you’ll know the famous establishment “Le Cafe”, and very likely, it’s majestic canine patron, Lincoln.

James Jameson commissioned a large portrait of Le Cafe’s furry chief of PR early in 2006. After a number of visits from Christchurch to the studio (6 hour drive each way) to sit for compositional photos (and socialising!) This was to be a special piece, and the particular concept for the final composition was one that took time and space to arrive. In doing so it created it’s own space in the work, an interplay between the subjects themselves and their presence, embodying Lincoln’s attitude and abillity for nonchalent companionship, laid back vigilence. Over the course of the year Lincoln took shape on the canvas.

The photos below capture a little of the process that was “Lincoln”, and the unveiling and signing of the finished commission. From the refining of the sleek muscular form, rendered from flat white to shimmering black and deep brindle, he was a one of those subjects that slips so smoothly into form it makes you wonder whether it’s you drawing him out of the canvas, or him drawing you in.

The finished work can be seen hanging at the famed Le Cafe, The Art Centre, Christchurch NZ. A hi-res photo of the work can also be viewed online here in the latestwork and other portraits gallery.

Many thanks to James (and Lincoln) for commissioning me as the artist for such a wonderful project.