Elliott’s re-imaginings at The Hive

ANY way you view it, artist Wayne Elliott is on the way up.

Elliott always had an early interest in landscape and aesthetics that was explored in photography.

But it wasn’t until the age of 28 that renowned artist Glenn Morgan, his cricket team mate, introduced him to the bare basics and then set him on his way to “tell a story”.

Six years later, Elliott spread several works on Morgan’s front lawn for his appraisal and was told “don’t have lessons, don’t change a thing”. So that is exactly what he did.

Roll forward several decades and his consistent style, themes and the merit of his art is certainly being recognised.

Elliott has just been invited to exhibit in the 52nd Premio Internazionale di arte naif Pierantonio Cavalli Varenna in Italy.

“This is a huge honour, as it is not only a very prestigious exhibition for my genre, but interestingly, the rules of naïve art are more restrictive and traditional in this county so it is very challenging to get in,” Elliott said.

Closer to home, Elliott was also paid a high tribute with a recent retrospective exhibition Re-Imagined Narratives at Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery. This institution has one of the largest public collections of naïve art in Australia. Director Ian Tully hand-selected works spanning Elliott’s entire 30 years as an artist and examined how he interprets iconic Australian scenes or events with a narrative to tell.

This interpretation of a scene means it is Elliott’s emotion or philosophy of an image that he is trying to capture and that may come across in varied ways on different occasions. As a consequence, he will re-visit sites of interest multiple times through the years with a point of difference each time in the art. His unique take on the world is also explored from multiple perspectives or spatiality and often a bird’s eye view.

“Early days growing up in Derrinallum and climbing Mount Elephant (Djerrinallum) with its vantage point to huge views across the Western Plains districts, probably fuelled this understanding and style,” Elliott said.

A Bellarine and Geelong local, Elliott’s first solo exhibition was with the late Russell Davis of Queenscliff Fine Art Gallery in 1990.

For six years he has continued his local representation through The Hive Gallery in Ocean Grove. His newest exhibition there, Re-Imagined Landscapes, runs from May 6-29. Meet Wayne at the opening on Sunday, May 8, from 2-4pm.

“I am proud that this event will be contributing to The Hive’s fundraiser for the year with part proceeds from any sales going to the Royal Melbourne Hospital Foundation,” Elliott said.

Visit The Hive Gallery at 1/41 Smithton Grove, Ocean Grove, or head to thehiveoceangrove.com.au.