Hamish Fleming

The combination of grunge aesthetics and classical realism seems unlikely at first, but these two unlikely partners blend seamlessly in the work of Adelaide-based painter H. Fleming. Taking a similar approach to that of the old masters and directing the focus of his work distinctly to what appears before him, both literally and psychologically. Fleming’s practice is more traditional than his decidedly contemporary subject matter would suggest. He works solely from life, without the use of any reference photos or digital aids and in addition to this, makes the majority of his paints himself from raw pigments. This working methodology resonates with Fleming’s blunt artistic demeanour, drawing upon what he finds himself presented with and sourcing the most he can out of each subject’s inherent qualities, seeing for what things for what they are in their entirety. The resulting works possess an almost palpable atmosphere that entices the viewer to look deeper into the work, loosing themselves in an array of gritty but effortlessly harmonious details.