Ben Howe - The More Things Change

About

The More Things Change is a new series of paintings by Ben Howe . In these works, Howe combines scientific and spiritual concepts in a series of meditations on identity, consciousness and temporal existence. Opening reception: Saturday, July 16th, 6 - 9pm . Drinks will be provided by Ballistic Beer Co and Hills Cider. This exhibition will run from July 17th - August 7th and will coincide with Annie Montgomerie's Fitting In , Bruno Pontiroli's Expression Corporelle and Andrew Cadima's Invasions . The figures in these paintings are not anchored in reality but are intended to appear as statues: solid yet strangely weightless within a quiet space. All of the components within these compositions share the same material and, like many of Howe’s paintings, evolved from a sculptural genesis evocative of primitive effigies while incorporating elements of symbol, tension and reflection. While some works allude to world events or examine the rituals of modern life, they are also fused with subconscious echoes triggered by personal sentiments and deeply set memories. These paintings draw from gothic motifs, literature and archaic tropes to look at broader issues relating to the physical and subjective self within contemporary society. Ben Howe (born in London, England) is a contemporary Australian painter. He holds a master’s of fine art degree with distinction from RMIT University. Known for his scientifically surreal aesthetic, Howe has developed a method of image making that is at once hyper-realistic yet deeply concerned with the poetics of form and symbolism. Including elements of documentation and a great emphasis on process, Howe’s ambiguous paintings are mostly derived from preliminary explorations in other media such as sculpture or sequential footage. He often produces the initial subjects in sculptural form and disassembles, reconfigures or combines them to form new compositions and meanings.