Steaphan Paton, Apricot green bullock print (detail), 2014, giclee print, 119 x 84cm
Steaphan Paton is a Melbourne-based interdisciplinary artist, descendant of the Gunai and Monero peoples, who grew up in Gippsland, Victoria. His works focus on the physical and industrial conflicts between cultures and how differences allow dominance of one culture over another, as well as the concept of ownership and discovery. The colonization of the Gippsland area is often explored through paintings, installations and video. These works highlight the violation of Gunai culture through European settlement and violent conflict between peoples, looking at ideas of land ownership, retaliation and brutality.
Paton’s work has been included in numerous group, festival and prize exhibitions. Most recently he has participated in the Nextwave Festival with his project My Bullock Modified (2014) and group exhibitions From where I stand, Melbourne Museum (2014); Horizons, Bundoora Homestead (2014);Melbourne Now, National Gallery of Victoria (2013); Sketchbook project, Brooklyn Art Library (2012) and Ngujarn and Nakun: Our Eyes, Our Footprints, Melbourne Museum (2009). He has held several solo exhibitions includingBoorun’s Canoe, Melbourne Museum (2012) and Where the trees are big and green, Latrobe Contemporary Gallery (2011). Paton was a recipient of the City of Melbourne Laneways Commission (2011) for his project Urban Doolagahl. He was also a recipient of the Victorian Indigenous Art Awards-Highly Commended (2007) and has been shortlisted in the prize on multiple occasions (2014, 2013, 2012, 2011). His work is held in the collections of the National Gallery of Victoria, the Melbourne Museum, Brooklyn Art Library and the Wellington Shire Council.
Steaphan Paton’s first solo show at Anna Pappas Gallery will be in early 2015.
