Martin Edge
In April 2012 Martin will be presenting a new exhibition entitled
"Martin and the Animals" He will also be showing work in the February 2012 "Story Bridge" show
Martin works in a deceptively simple naive style. He possesses an instinctive design sense and a natural ease with the use of strong vibrant colours. His subject matter is taken from his own daily life( mowing the lawn), and memorable experiences (chased by a coral cod) and aspects of the Brisbane landscape that he finds appealing.
Martin studied painting at North Brisbane TAFE and illustration at Southbank TAFE.
In 2009 he was a finalist in the prestigious Blake Prize for religious art, and has produced a private commission for Sydney artist Ken Done who he met through this exhibition.
Martin's career is really taking off and he is building up an impressive exhibition history. He has been shortlisted for numerous awards and in 2008 his work was acquired by the Moreton Bay Regional Council at their 16th Annual Art Awards.
Recently Martin had a large painting acquired by Parliament House Canberra for their permanent collection.
(See below after the images the text of the opening speech of the exhibition "Paintings of Brisbane".)
Martin's Lunch, Martin Edge, 76x100cm, $990
Not the face!, Martin Edge, 40x50cm, $450
Reef On Edge, Martin Edge, 76x100cm $990
Hold On, Martin Edge, 40x50cm, $450 SOLD
Whale Season, Martin Edge, 40x50cm, $450
The Coral Cod, Martin Edge, 40x50cm, $450
Orange Sky 45 x 60cm $590
South Bank 45x60cm $590
City Hall 45 x 60 cm $590
I'm Coming 45 x60cm $590
City Ferry on Green 45 x 60cm $590
City Ferry and City 45 x60cm $590
"It's Time" 45x 60 cm $590
Brisbane City and Bouganvillea 45x60cm $590
A Brisbane Day 45x60cm $590 SOLD
Martin in Brisbane 45x60cm $590
Welcome to Brisbane 76 x76 cm $980 SOLD to Parliament House Canberra
Brisbane Night 76 x76 cm $980
Text of opening speech by Robyn Bauer
I would firstly like to express how happy we are to have Martin’s “Paintings of Brisbane” as our opening show for 2011.
After the recent floods it is timely for us to celebrate what is good about our city. Our usually sluggish but occasionally bad tempered river features in 10 of these 12 paintings, in many different guises, from muddy brown, to green, blue, grey to patterned and finally reflecting the fireworks of a night sky.
Martin’s work has been called, and indeed he himself describes it as painted in “naïve style” so I would like to talk a little about what that means. Not a lot of what is written about naïve art actually makes any sense.
There is a famous quote by Picasso. He says…
“It took me 4 years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child” Of course Picasso didn’t literally paint like a child but he was referring to the direct and unfettered approach with which a child is supposedly able to express itself.
One definition of Naïve art is “art characterised by a childlike simplicity in its subject matter and technique.” While many naïve artists appear from their work to have had little or no art training this is usually not true. It is a fully recognised art genre represented in galleries worldwide. Famous exponents include Grandma Moses in the USA and Henri Rousseau in France and closer to home Katy Edwards here in Brisbane.
There is a near universal appeal of this exhilarating art form, perhaps from the celestial joy-inspiring palette, perhaps its simplified forms or the timeless nature of the subject matter. It is characterised by a refreshing innocence, flattened perspective, strong use of pattern and the use of colour is equal on all parts of the composition. The naïve artist treats us to a uniquely literal, yet extremely personal and coherent vision of what the world is or should be. All this is what Martin has achieved with his subject matter of Brisbane. This exhibition bristles with colour and excitement, brims with wry humour and candour. Note the Boat coming around under the bridge.
Martin has a tremendous facility with paint and with colour and shape. Far from being the “childlike” of the naïve definition they are extremely sophisticated. They are bold and direct with their brilliant saturated colours and patterns and there is a clear logic to what Martin is doing based not only on what he sees but on what he knows to be true.
He has his own expressive and stylistic alphabet. He has his own vision of his subject matter of Brisbane and he has enormous talent. Not everyone who wants to, can be a naïve painter.
His arrangements are orderly and coherent, rhythms consistent and colours harmonise.
I would mention at this point that Grandma Moses paintings that she originally sold for $5 now sell for between $8,000 - $10,000.
