VCA ART 2020

Patrick Staley

Bachelor of Fine Arts (Drawing & Printmaking)

Magnified perception is a stark reality of isolation. Isolation brought upon by unforeseen circumstances. Isolated spaces are muted by monochrome; the contrasts created tell an ambiguous story. Elements of moral ambiguity, alienation and pessimism are motifs of film noir, which are reflected in the monochromatic images that pay homage to the original grayscale photos and film used in the process of creating my work. The bridge between drawing and image meet through the control of tonality, as light is reconstructed by pastel and charcoal to create new textures and tones. Drawings that reflect scenes from the film construct a deeper ambiguity—as if lining up performative pieces and arranging them in logical order to draw out conclusions—exposing a possible revelation in the film that accompanies the drawings.

Patrick Staley, Untitled 1, charcoal and pastel, gessoed paper, 2020. Documentation by Lucy Foster.
Patrick Staley, Untitled 1, charcoal and pastel, gessoed paper, 2020. Documentation by Lucy Foster.
Patrick Staley, Untitled 2, charcoal and pastel, gessoed paper, 2020. Documentation by Lucy Foster.
Patrick Staley, Untitled 2, charcoal and pastel, gessoed paper, 2020. Documentation by Lucy Foster.
Patrick Staley, Untitled 3, charcoal and pastel, gessoed paper, 2020. Documentation by Lucy Foster.
Patrick Staley, Untitled 3, charcoal and pastel, gessoed paper, 2020. Documentation by Lucy Foster.
Patrick Staley, Untitled 4, charcoal and pastel, gessoed paper, 2020. Documentation by Lucy Foster.
Patrick Staley, Untitled 4, charcoal and pastel, gessoed paper, 2020. Documentation by Lucy Foster.
Patrick Staley, Untitled 1 (detail), charcoal and pastel, gessoed paper, 2020. Documentation by Lucy Foster.
Patrick Staley, Untitled 1 (detail), charcoal and pastel, gessoed paper, 2020. Documentation by Lucy Foster.
Patrick Staley, Untitled 2 (detail), charcoal and pastel, gessoed paper, 2020. Documentation by Lucy Foster.
Patrick Staley, Untitled 2 (detail), charcoal and pastel, gessoed paper, 2020. Documentation by Lucy Foster.
Patrick Staley, installation view, 2020. Documentation by Christo Crocker, Eliza Dyball and Aaron Rees.
Patrick Staley, installation view, 2020. Documentation by Christo Crocker, Eliza Dyball and Aaron Rees.
Patrick Staley, Boredom and Madness, monochrome film, 2020

We acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Owners of the lands upon which our campus is situated, the people of the Boon Wurrung and Woi Wurrung, who have created art, made music and told their stories here for thousands of generations. We also acknowledge and extend our respect to the Traditional Owners of all lands on which our work is viewed, shared and enjoyed, and to all Elders, past, present and emerging.

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