Performance / Floor Drawing
July 29 6pm - 9pm, 2024
DRAW Space
The artistic output by James Gardiner (fahn) is informed by the phenomenon of Pareidolia, where meaningful forms are found in ambiguous, random patterns. These forms are then developed into three dimensions on a robotic cutting machine (CNC router).
Floor Drawing examines the initial stages of Gardiner’s process, where live automatic drawings are performed over multiple floor-based surfaces using fluid gestures and movements. His body reaches, circles, stretches, and balances to produce marks on paper. With musical accompaniments, ephemeral works teeter on the edge of collapse as boundaries are taped off and mediums collide in a mixture that includes inks, spray paints, wax crayons, and graphite. The audience surrounds the artist in this alchemical process, witnessing an intimate stage of artistic creation.
Artist James Gardiner (fahn)
James Gardiner (fahn), Floor Drawing at DRAW Space, 2024. Documentation by Richard Trang.
“This is not a performance to perform, but a performance of utility. A strange dance developed in response to reaching, circling, focusing, and marking”.
— James Gardiner (fahn)
James Gardiner (fahn), Floor Drawing at DRAW Space, 2024. Video edited by Daniel Press. Thumbnail image by Ben Guthrie.
James Gardiner (fahn), Floor Drawing at DRAW Space, 2024. Documentation by Richard Trang.
James Gardiner (fahn), Floor Drawing at DRAW Space, 2024. Documentation by Ben Guthrie.
James Gardiner (fahn), Floor Drawing at DRAW Space, 2024. Documentation by Richard Trang.
James Gardiner (fahn), Floor Drawing at DRAW Space, 2024. Documentation by Ben Guthrie.
James Gardiner (fahn), Floor Drawing at DRAW Space, 2024. Documentation by Ben Guthrie.
James Gardiner (fahn), Floor Drawing at DRAW Space, 2024. Documentation by Richard Trang.
James Gardiner (fahn), Floor Drawing at DRAW Space, 2024. Documentation by Richard Trang.
James Gardiner (fahn), Floor Drawing at DRAW Space, 2024. Documentation by Ben Guthrie.
James Gardiner (fahn), Floor Drawing at DRAW Space, 2024. Documentation by Ben Guthrie.
James Gardiner (fahn), Floor Drawing at DRAW Space, 2024. Documentation by Ben Guthrie.
James Gardiner (fahn), Floor Drawing at DRAW Space, 2024. Documentation by Ben Guthrie.
James Gardiner (fahn), Floor Drawing at DRAW Space, 2024. Documentation by Richard Trang.
James Gardiner (fahn), Floor Drawing at DRAW Space, 2024. Documentation by Ben Guthrie.
artist bio:
James Gardiner (fahn) (b. 1973) is an emerging artist born and living in Sydney. Formerly an award-winning architect and inventor who developed the world’s first 3D printed reef and construction scale wax formwork 3D printer. After many years honing his art skills, James dedicated himself full-time to his art practice in 2018.
In 2018 James completed an artist residency at UNSW Art & Design, culminating in a large 3D printed Shard artwork on Tamarama Beach for Sculpture by the Sea. In 2019 James exhibited a solo show at Arthouse Gallery and regularly exhibited group shows - including with Dominik Mersch, Defiance, and Saywell galleries in 2023. In 2024, James featured in Drawn Together and Fabrication at DRAW Space Gallery, Terrain at Art Garage(s) Gallery, and the 23rd Japan International Art Exchange Exhibition at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Art. James is sharpening his skills in the Master of Fine Arts program at the National Art School in Sydney.
James’ art focuses on multi-perspectival perception and consciousness, where every sculpture, painting and drawing can be interpreted in multiple ways - such as portrait or landscape, elevation or plan. This presents the viewer with an interpretive dilemma and opening for conscious contemplation.
In line with his former life as an inventor, James works across multiple mediums, constantly experimenting and pushing his work into new materials and technologies.
James Gardiner (fahn), Paper Sentience - PaSe24-30, 2024.
James Gardiner (fahn), Paper Sentience - PaSe24-29, 2024.