BERIC HENDERSON
Beric has been drawing all his life. His artwork is heavily influenced by the different environments in which he has lived: the cityscapes of Sydney and London, the long beaches of the Gold Coast, and the dark forests and winding roads of Switzerland. In 1998-1999 he received sufficient formal training in drawing and painting to develop his own unique style and breathe life into his imaginings on canvas and paper. Over the last few years Beric’s style and interests have evolved, in particular with the increased use of abstract elements in his drawing. He enjoys creating works that evoke an emotional or psychological response, and there frequently recurs a nocturnal and sometimes gothic element to his compositions and surrealistic works. The mood and themes of his art have been influenced by other artists (painters, writers, directors) including Alberto Giacometti, H.R. Giger, Jackson Pollock, Franz Kafka, Raymond Chandler, Alfred Hitchcock and Tim Burton.
Beric’s noir-styled paintings are usually each built up from working sketches made at night. Repeating locales and motifs involve scenes of lone figures in settings that range from forests with lonely roads, parks with flickering lamp-posts to lighthouses and cityscapes. He says they are all connected somehow in his mind, and that the connection is becoming clearer with each new work. Beric’s pictures deal to some extent with isolation and alienation, but they also reflect a personal journey. He likes to experiment with our fear of the unknown, that feeling of being dislodged from one’s comfort zone, and of questioning the boundary of that comfort zone.
CURRICULUM VITAE
| 1963 | Born, Sydney, NSW Australia |
| 1983 | Art History and Criticism by course work, "Issues and Images of 20th Century Art", University of NSW |
| 1998-1999 | Art training at Southern Sydney TAFE, St George |
| 1999 | Group Exhibition: St George Technical College, paintings and drawings. |
| 2002 | Group Exhibition: Southern Exposure II, Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, Gymea, Sydney |
| 2003 | Solo Exhibition: 'Twilights and Nocturnes', Hazelhurst Community Gallery |
| 2004 | Press: Artwork featured in Spectrum 11, The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art |
| 2005 | Press: Australian Artist Magazine No. 256 p. 10 (Oct), "Pulp Surrealism at Hurstville Regional Museum" / Barton, Kathryn, The Leader newspaper, p.61 (Oct 20) "Haunted by the Surreal and Ironic / Stephen, Jeanette, The Torch newspaper p. 7 (Oct 26) "Surreal Statements Emerge from Night" / Publication: "Pulp Surrealism and Other Visions: The Art of Beric Henderson", Preface by Prof. Robin Walz (Vertigo Vision Limited Editions) / Artwork featured in Spectrum 12: The Best of Contemporary Fantastic Art (Underwood Publishing USA) / US Art magazine Art Direct, Vol. 12 / Solo Exhibition: 'Pulp Surrealism', St George Regional Museum / Prizes: Design and Promotion for Dragon's Lair Art Gallery, St George Regional Museum Hurstville, Sydney |
| 2006 | Artwork featured in the "Masters of Fantasy Vol. 3" Interactive CD / Group exhibition Originals, Wallspace Gallery / Solo show: Searching for Enlightenment, Wallspace Gallery. |
| 2007 | Willoughby Art Prize - selected artist / Waverley Art Prize - selected artist. Press: Feature article in Artist palette magazine, No.48, pp 62-68 / Finalist in the Prometheus Art Prize 2007, Gold Coast / Feature piece in US on-line Holograph magazine (literature-graphic art), issue 4 to be launched August 2007 |
