Artist’s Statement
I'm James Mathurin. I'm a Londoner, living and working in Sydney, who primarily works in a mixture of traditional pencil and ink linework and digital, and also photography and graphic design. After getting my BA in Visual Communication Design from Middlesex University, I did some freelance advertising work, and I have exhibited in London and Sydney, where I am based. My art practice has been influenced by comics, animation, surrealism and science (both real and fictional). Another big influence is my work in Primary and Secondary education, especially my Comic-Book clubs, where I encourage students to find some different worlds themselves, and maybe create their own. I also do photography, particularly street art from around the world, and some of it makes its way into my art. I also make humorous infographics (yes, that is a thing).
Using a combination of traditional pencil, pen and ink, photography, and digital techniques, my pieces in this show move through alternate pasts, presents and futures. In the past, the art world responds to having intelligent machines living alongside us in the 19th and early 20th Century; In one present, strange creatures and robots confront heroic figures in the middle of our cities, while in another, refugees from other dimensions live, work, and play alongside us; In a possible future, corporate cyborgs seek to forcibly acquire a new employee.
I have exhibited in London and Sydney, where I am based. My art practice has influenced and been influenced by my work in Primary and Secondary education, especially my Comic-Book clubs, where I encourage students to find some different worlds themselves, and maybe create their own.
Biography
Born in 1979 in London, James Mathurin works in a mixture of mediums: traditional pen and ink line work, digital drawing and colouring, photography and various combinations thereof. Having been influenced by comics and nerd culture, the Surrealist, Pre-Raphaelite and Dada movements, James’ work uses fantastic narratives to look forwards, backwards and sideways in time. After getting his BA in Visual Communication Design from Middlesex University, James did some freelance advertising work, and after moving to Sydney, he started exhibiting with the Sydney Comic Guild and other groups. Currently, he is the design and concept artist on the game Primal:Khaos, in development by Yelkrab Studios.
Influences
Surrealism, Giorgio de Chirico, René Magritte, H.R. Giger, Comic Book art (Denys Cowan, Chriscross, M.D. Bright, Will Eisner, Frank Quitely), Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Pre-Raphaellites.
Awards
Feb 2016
Celebrate Diversity
Join Winner
Artshine Gallery
Sydney
Exhibitions
February
Different Worlds
Joint Exhibtion
ArtSHINE Gallery
August 2016
The Yellow Board
Space Gallery
Sydney
Feb 2016
Celebrate Diversity
Artshine Gallery
Sydney
January 2016
Bosozuku Wolves
The Shop Gallery
Sydney
Dec 2015
Artworks of Fantasy & Imagination
The Shop Gallery
Sydney
October 2015
Draw Me A Calendar
Artshine Gallery
Sydney
August 2015
Art On Board
Artshine Gallery
Sydney
April 2015
Sydney Comic Art & Drawing Exhibition
Artshine Gallery
Sydney
November 2010
Residency at the Apostles Bar
London
Showing all 31 artworks