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Dan O’DonnellGUEST (VIC)When viewing“an artwork, itis not unusualto mentallydissect it –like a childpulling amachine apartin order to see how itworks. Once the machineis in pieces, it can thenbe quite difficult toremember how it goesback together again.We have a tendency tobreak down the meaningof an artwork into the“who, what, why, whereand when”, and thenforget the reason thatwe liked it in the firstplace. I believe thatthere is as much togain from knowledgeas there is from theacceptance of notknowing. My artworksare a celebration of thisvery concept. Mixed inbetween representationand abstraction, theworks explore thethemes of freedom,danger, anxiety and thestrange. Using a mixtureof collage, paintingand drawing, they arejourneys into a spaceand time where old andnew materials intersectand where the viewer isinvited to release theircontrol over reason.Was Never HereCollage and acrylic on canvas, 90 x 69cm, 2011$920Dan has always been interested in art and pursued this interest atsecondary school, particularly the paintings of Giorgio de Chirico. Hestudied painting at the Victorian College of the Arts, completing his BAin 2006. This invaluable experience was followed by a trip to Londonwhere he assisted Australian artist David Noonan with preparing workfor an exhibition. He completed his Dip Ed at University of Ballarat in2008. He now lives in Ballarat and continues to create art and regularlyexhibit work in solo and group exhibitionsURBAN CREATURES 31