LIAM JAMES
Photo by Rosa Considine
Liam James
At about 15 I was rummaging through old boxes in my parents cupboards and I stumbled on an old kit-bag full of photographic slides, I spent days looking at every image, and I think this is where I got hooked in.
Art is grappling and story-telling. It is something that we should all be given space and time to do.
I remember the first large scale Rothko I ever saw. I cried for a good little bit. I guess that was a pretty nice time.
With Sawtooth I have been a group-show exhibitor, a solo-show artist, a curator, a board member, and even the Director.
Each different role has been a rewarding and life shaping experience. The one thing that ties across all is the sense of joy that comes from the organisations design to foster play and to allow risk taking.
Sawtooth ARI (Arts Alive) I will always love you. You have been my first for so many things. xoxoxo
Biography
Lutruwita/Tasmanian born artist Liam James completed his Bachelor of Contemporary Art at the University of Tasmania in 2010 with Honours from the Australian National University in Canberra in 2012. Now based in Narrm/Melbourne undertaking a Master in Arts Management. James has shown in various galleries across Tasmania and has exhibited nationally and internationally.
He has an accompanying curatorial/management practice that has seen him involved with several artist-run initiatives and project-based exhibitions; these inform and compliment his making.
James works primarily within visual arts, creating evocative scenes and portraits rich with references to Australian art history, his personal identity and the wider canon of art. Each work cleverly critiques its place within this dialogue; and provokes questions from the viewer about the discomfort of belonging and our understanding of art and local history, as it is presented to us and by whom.
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