Finalist for the 2017 MIDWEST ART PRIZE - The Geralton Regional Art Gallery.

| ON SHOW 17 JUNE - 31 JULY 2017 |

The Geraldton Regional Art Gallery, with our partners, is proud to deliver one of the most prominent and valuable prizes in Western Australia. Opened on Friday the 16th of June by The Acting Director of Exhibitions and Collections at The Art Gallery of Western Australia James Davies, the fifth Mid West Art Prize showcases showcases the diversity, quality and innovation of art currently being made in the state. There are no restrictions in terms of art style, medium or size, entries simply have to fit through our Gallery door!

Winners and Judges Comments:

$20,000 City of Greater Geraldton Overall Award for Excellence
Sarah Mills - The Fantasy and The Flesh, 2017, Digital photograph

Mid West Art Prize 2017 Judges:

Lee Kinsella

Project Coordinator 
Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, The University of Western Australia

Lee has curated and managed exhibitions at Australian and national public institutions, including the Art Gallery of Western Australia, The Australian War Memorial and The National Film and Sound Archive (formerly ScreenSound Australia). She has written catalogue essays, articles and contributed to several books on Australia art, co-editing Into the Light: The Cruthers Collections of Women’s Art in 2012 and HERE&NOW13 in 2013.

Dr Ric Spencer

Curator
Fremantle Arts Centre

He has been involved in numerous art activities as a curator, writer and artist, has exhibited in Australia, Asia and the UK and had his work published in Australian, UK and American arts journals. Ric wrote art criticism for The West Australian newspaper from 2004 until 2011 and during the later years also lectured at Curtin University where he holds a Doctor of Creative Arts and is currently Adjunct Professor.

David Doyle

Executive Director 
DADAA Ltd

David has been the instigator behind transformational change and sustained reinvention for DADAA over the past 22 years. He has led the organisation’s growth and embedded disability-led practise, through partnerships with national and international arts practitioners, CACD organisations and government departments. David has forged ground-breaking partnerships with the philanthropic, corporate and private sector, setting a national standard for diverse, strong private and public sector giving for art led social change. 

© ©hristophe ©anato 2017

ARTBANK, three RAGAMUFFINS acquisitions - 2017 Artbank Road Show

RAGAMUFFINS 2009 @ Christophe Canato

For over 35 years Artbank has been at the forefront of the Australian contemporary art sector and is the most successful program of its type in the world.

Established in 1980 as a federal government support program, Artbank’s two core objectives are to provide direct support to Australian contemporary artists through the acquisition of their work and to promote the value of Australian contemporary art to the broader public. Artbank funds its operations through the leasing of artworks from its collection.

The Artbank collection was founded in 1980 with an endowment of 600 artworks from the National Collection and has since grown to include over 10,000 works spanning media including painting, sculpture, video and photography.

More about ARTBANK here

#Repost @artbankau with @repostapp
・・・
A bumper crop of #newacquisitions from the #Perth stop of the #artbankroadshow. Our biggest yet! Here's a sneak peek of just a selection including :
⚡️Nathan Beard, 'Rampai/Samniang/Ratana/Pornjit' 2014-17
⚡️Christophe Canato, 'RAGAMUFFINS' 2009
⚡️Ian Williams, 'Double Barrel' 2017
⚡️Jenn Garland, 'The Pits stop' 2017
⚡️Jo Darvall, 'Sugar Loaf Road' 2016
⚡️Christopher Young, 'Small Town' 2012-16
⚡️Gera Woltjer, 'Pool Drawings #4' 2015
Plus our first ever roadshow commission by the incredible Teelah George. See you next week #Canberra for the final roadshow stop. 🚘
#artbankau #artbankcollection #australianart#contemporaryart #nathanbeard#christophecanato #ianwilliams #jenngarland#jodarvall #christopheryoung #gerawoltjer#teelahgeorge

RAGAMUFFINS n°08 © christophe canato

RAGAMUFFINS n°11 © christophe canato

RAGAMUFFINS n°18 © christophe canato

Perth Centre for Photography Winter Workshops. The Exquisite Portrait by Christopher Canato - 26 May 2017

© Christophe Canato from the series RICOCHET

Establishing rapport, understanding and trust, as well as control of light are equally important factors when creating a photographic portrait.

In this this workshop WA photo-media artist Christophe Canato will present a variety of ways to work a portrait using available and studio lighting. Christophe will share some of his methods touching on cultural or instinctual considerations, historical references, styling and Photoshop. Participants will explore the necessary presence of gesture, and the subtle use of metaphors which can be used to add layers of meaning to portraits.

Facilitator: Christophe Canato

RICOCHET, highly-rated entry to the Magnum Photography Awards 2016, considering by the Exposure Awards organisation.

Hi Christophe -  We would like to remind you that your photo entry to the Magnum Photography Awards 2016 (shown below) was among the top-rated entries we've received. Nice work! During our competitions, all submissions are rated in the review process. We then look at the ratings of ALL submissions across ALL competitions and notify photographers who had highly-rated submissions. It's an impressive accomplishment considering we get thousands of submissions from 150 countries! We notify photographers of achievements like this because we believe top-rated work has a very good chance of a positive outcome in the current competition we are hosting, the LensCulture Exposure Awards. Even if you decide not to enter, we think it's important for you to know that you are creating strong work and want to encourage you to keep going! Congratulations from our entire team at LensCulture, we sincerely appreciate your participation in our community. Cheers and good luck! The LensCulture Team RICOCHET © Christophe Canato

Artist in Residency, 20th March - 15th April, Central TAFE, Perth.

Artist talk. Wednesday 26th April 11:30 to 12:30

Lecture Theatre D225. 133 Newcastle Street, Perth

French-born and Perth-based, Canato brings a background in fashion and commercial photography to his work as an artist in photomedia.

His photographs are not portraits but portrayals. It is not biography that they unfold so much as a state of being.

© christophe canato

Finalist - City of Busselton Art Award 2016 - from 16 September to 23 October 2016 - ArtGeo Cultural Complex, 7 Queen Street, Busselton Western Australia - 182 entries, 52 finalists.

Self portrait inspired by Patricia Piccinini,The Carrier, 2012

Finalist - Print Award 2016 - from 23 Septembre to 12 November - Fremantle Arts Centre - 301 entries, 49 finalists.

Fremantle Arts Centre Print Award supported by Little Creatures Brewing
Thurs 22 Sept | 6:30pm | Free | To be opened by Michael Kempson, Senior Lecturer & Convenor of Printmaking Studies, Director of Cicada Press, UNSW

Australia’s premier showcase of prints and artists' books returns with a selection of the best works from established, emerging and cross-disciplinary artists from across the nation. In 2016 the exhibition continues to present works that celebrate classical printmaking while simultaneously embracing cutting-edge interpretations of the medium.

Join us at the opening to see who has won this coveted award in 2016.

First Prize $16,000 | Second Prize $6,000

Exhibiting Artists
Dani Andree (VIC) | Lyn Ashby (VIC) | Hayley Bahr (WA) | Tina Barahanos (NSW) | Elaine Batton (VIC) | Nathan Beard (WA) | Rebecca Beardmore (NSW) | Sam Bloor (WA) | Dean Brown (NSW) | Leah Bullen (NSW) | Tim Burns (WA) | Bina Butcher-Monsees (WA) | Cristophe Canato (WA) | Jillian Ciemitis (WA) | Neilton Clarke (NSW) | Macky Cunningham (WA) | Clive Dickson (VIC) | Eva Fernandez (WA) | Robert Fielding (NT) | Kailum Graves (QLD) | Gracia Haby & Louise Jennison (VIC) | Judy Holding (VIC) | Emily Hornum (WA) | Lucas Ihlein (NSW) | Locust Jones (NSW) | Bruno Leti (VIC) | Neil Malone (VIC) | Shannon McCulloch (WA) | Megan McPherson (VIC) | Matthew McVeigh (WA) | Bill Moseley (NSW) | Grace Myers (SA) | David Nixon (QLD) | Holly O’Meehan (WA) | Rebecca Orchard (WA) | Jason Phu (NSW) | Ben Rak (NSW) | Kiara Rechichi (WA) | Elvis Richardson & Virginia Fraser (VIC) | Sarah Ritchie (VIC) | Brian Robinson (QLD) | Teho Ropeyarn (QLD) | Michael Rose (WA) | Neridah Stockley (NT) | Peter Ward (NSW) | Cleo Wilkinson (QLD) | Christine Willcocks (NSW) | Joel Wolter (VIC) | Hansdieter Zeh (WA)

Magnum Awards 2016 - RICOCHET, Series Category, Fine Art

REVIEWER FEEDBACK

I am very much taken with these pictures. The pull me in an create a feeling. They are self-conscious and carefully created in a very pleasing way that functions like a stage play where I can revel in the clarity and the precision knowing that this has been created for my (the viewers) visual pleasure and experience. I love how the images verge on the edge of being paintings but hover still in the photographic world. The fragments of nature (picture 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10), the seeds , the stump, the shack and the nest and the mouse all work very well together and within the context of the pictures of the kids They are I think fragments that start to point towards a possible narrative--of a kind of wildness and darkness in the woods. But also beautiful observations that reflect to my mind the way a small thing, particularly to a child can take on a greater meaning. These carefully observed and beautifully rendered objects interspersed with the children works very well for me. 

I am however really thrown off by pictures 3 and 9, with the orange peel and the black tongue. They definitely disrupt the experience for me. They feel like goofy pictures of kids that make me feel as if I'm looking at a snapshot. They take me out of the poetic experience of the rest of the pictures. 
Also while I can kind of see in some ways the Shakespearian allusions it's quite limited to me -- maybe the woods and the theatrical aspect, but I for me they resonate more strongly with the idea of fairy tales and childhood rather than Shakespeare and I'm slightly confused by that early part of the statement/review/wall text (curators comments?). I would suggest however that you reconsider some of the assertions in the statement. Its somewhat awkward to have a review as your own artist statement. I can see that perhaps it was wall text or even text for a book, but I find it keeps me away from really experiencing the work-- While I think artists should generally speaking be quite limited in how they interpret their own work, in this case I would rather hear your ideas and your words than someone else's. 
All in all I think these are quite intriguing and interesting pictures that bring together excellent technical and aesthetic skills. You clearly have a strong intuitive sense and an ability to create a world. The pictures verge on a narrative and then pull back in a way that I find quite compelling and excellent. 
This is interesting work that is exciting and you are clearly very skilled and I am very much pulled in by your work. 

Artist talk Saturday 17 July, Linton and Kay, Perth - MANDORLA Art Award 2016

Finalist - MANDORLA Art Award 2016

The Mandorla Art Award employs a thematic spiritual inspiration that changes with each exhibition. These inspirations are defined by quotations from the Bible and all participating artists are requested to interpret these in their own way. In 2016, artists will interpret the theme ‘The Resurrection’ in figurative and abstract form and through various media.

This national award is open to artists working in all media and artists are invited to submit an application to be considered for this award. A selection panel will choose the finalists for the exhibition and an independent judging panel will award the prizes.

The award features a $25,000 Main Prize, two $5,000 Highly Commended Prizes and a $2,000 People’s Choice Award. 

The Mandorla Art Award 2016 finalists will be showcased in an exhibition held at Linton and Kay Gallery, Perth from 15-24 July 2016. Artworks will be available for purchase.

MANDORLA Art Award 2016 on Facebook

about MANDORLA Art Award 

Turner Galleries has extended the Ricochet exhibition to the 28th of May 2016 - Turner Galleries - 470 William Street, North Bridge WA

RICOCHET, Turner Galleries, April 2016 © christophe canato

RICOCHET, Turner Galleries, April 2016 © christophe canato

RICOCHET, Turner Galleries, April 2016 © christophe canato

RICOCHET, Turner Galleries, April 2016 © christophe canato

RICOCHET, Turner Galleries, April 2016 © christophe canato

RICOCHET, Turner Galleries, April 2016 © christophe canato

THE PERTH VOICE n°929, April 23,2016 - article by Jenny D'Anger

RICOCHET at Turner Galleries - 1 to 30 April 2016 - 470 William Street, North Bridge WA

TURNER GALLERIES

"I find Christophe Canato's images immediately arresting for their deep beauty and mystery. The strange yet familiar portraits are as pure and innocent as they are menacing, bestial and childlike, yet always composed with great elegance."

^{Sean Tobin, 2016}

French-Australian Christophe Canato lives and works in Perth, Western Australia. Born in France, he grew up in an artistic family environment where his father was a painter. As an early drawer and painter himself, he successfully entered the Beaux-Arts school at seventeen years of age and studied Visual Arts.  Christophe received his DNSEP in 1989 (comparable to a Master degree in Fine Arts) and in 1993 a Diploma of Fashion from the prestigious Institut Français de la Mode (French Fashion Institute) in Paris. After working freelance in the Paris fashion industry, photography became his favoured tool to express himself as an artist.

In 1997 Christophe won first prize in the Paris Salon de la Jeune Création, and began his career as an artist in earnest. In 2005 he moved to Perth and quickly established himself as an artist to watch, winning a Town of Vincent Art Award that year. Since then he has continued to exhibit extensively in Australia and overseas.

Ricochet is a photographic series that he completed in 2013, exhibiting it in Anna Pappas Gallery in Melbourne and the Queensland Centre for Photography in 2014, and in the Singapore Fringe Festival in 2016. It is now Perth’s turn to view these hauntingly beautiful images.  Ricochet is comprised of images of children and still life objects. Each is beautifully lit in against an inky background.  Accompanying these are two dark landscapes, each with a foreground habitat; an anthill and a hideout. A video work from this series will also be on display.

The lack of background detail, the unadorned black clothing, and Christophe’s choice of subject matter, all combine to create timeless images. This is perhaps an unrealistic portrayal of contemporary youth, with today’s clutter of toys and technology. These are wistful, poetic memories of that time in childhood where you have newfound freedoms, days filled with curiosity and adventure, and the angst of adolescence is still some time away. Individually, these photographs attempt to capture those fleeting moments from childhoods past, the mesmerising time the ocean is first heard in a seashell, or the simplicity of placing a thorn on a nose to conjure a dragon or perhaps a rhino.

As Alasdair Foster noted, “It is an age of becoming. A voyage already begun; the maternal haven to stern and the churn of adolescence still to come. It is a time when the brain is plastic; knowledge is sketchy but tacked together with the rich embroidery of the imagination. These are the dog days before puberty.”

Like the ricochet of a bullet, or the skipping of a stone over water, these images bounce between different childhood experiences. From finding the treasures of a mother of pearl button, the skeletal remains of a frog, or the brilliant feathers on a dead parrot bejewelled in droplets of water, to watching a pair of snails mating, or building a hideout from branches and leaves, these are the experiences that open our eyes to the wonder of the world, the start of comprehending life and death, finding beauty in small places, and delighting in boundless imagination. This is the preparation for adulthood, where sadly the wonder and enchantment found in the everyday diminishes.  I do not see these as portraits, or even descriptions of the artist’s own childhood memories, but rather, a set of keys to open the past for all viewers. 

Please contact Turner Galleries for further information or images from the exhibition; email info@turnergalleries.com.au or phone 08 9227 1077. This exhibition can be viewed on our website www.turnergalleries.com.au from 1 April.

CHRISTOPHE CANATO in conversation with SEAN TOBIN Artistic Director M1 Singapore Fringe Festival

In the lead up to Christophe Canato's exhibition RICOCHET in M1 Singapore Fringe Festival, in less than two weeks time, I managed to have a little online chat with Christophe about his work.

SEAN: There is such an intimacy to the works in Ricochet that keep me pondering about your relationships with the subjects in the photos. Would you like to share about any of them with us? The children? The animals?

CHRISTOPHE: As a migrant, born in France and living in Australia for the past 10 years, my emotions are certainly surfing between two cultures.
In this context, the isolation process due to relocation bring back memories and identities. Since then, my work in general has been quite intimate. However, with Ricochet my interest is to explore everyone's intimacies and memories. In these five boys portraits, one of them is more likely close to who I was.

SEAN: How would you describe your relationship with animals? Do you keep any animals? Do you have a favourite? Or any zoophobia?

CHRISTOPHE: That’s an interesting and vast question. I will try to keep it simple. My only religion is mother earth based upon respect for life in any kind.
My favorite will be to observe, learn from and appreciate each species included those that terrify me.

SEAN: I know that you have been taking photos for a long time, both in the fashion world and in the art world, bouncing between Paris and Perth. That’s an interesting life. What tends to keep you going artistically? What inspires and nurtures your voice and your craft as an artist?

CHRISTOPHE: I haven’t work with the fashion sector for quite a while now and there is something beneficial to take distance with this industry. It is exhilarating to be able to devote yourself to your passion. It makes me feel alive.

SEAN: As an artist and fashion photographer, do you have any strongly held views about the state of the fashion world and the art world that you would like to share?

CHRISTOPHE: Often some people ask me about my technical skills in photography rather than the concept or the message itself included in my art.
Recently, about my work in progress Andy is Dandling, this person was asking me 'how do you make your models pose this way?'. I guess this comes from the fashion where the body is the structure of the garment and you handle it at your leisure while preserving the emotions.

SEAN: I suppose by now you have managed to look at the rest of the Singapore Fringe programme. Are there any artists or works that stand out to you, that you are hoping to catch while you are here?

CHRISTOPHE:I have to be honest with you I didn’t have time to go through the all program yet. I was working on the 30 pages catalogue and tried to manage printing, framing, freighting before to visit you. I am very much looking forward to my 5 days in Singapore to enjoy relax and discover talents. I will throw my heart for any platform which will includes contemporary dance, I am a big fan of it. 

SEAN: So I guess M1 Singapore Fringe is your first gig for 2016. Any other exciting plans for 2016 that you can share with us? Plans to bring the work elsewhere? New works in the pipeline?

CHRISTOPHE: There is few projects but I will keep it quiet for now if you don’t mind. One thing for sure, my brain is boiling and it will be liberating back to my studio working on this series I mentioned previously. This time I am interested to express my feeling about male gender identities in our western countries. Let’s talk about that in front of a cup of tea.

SEAN: I look forward to the cups of tea Christophe, to introducing you to some of the other artists and works in the fringe, and we could have lots of long talks about male gender identities. Sounds like something that could fit in very well with Art & Skin, for 2017. 

émoticône smile

ION art gallery, Singapore

ION art gallery

M1 FRINGE FESTIVAL PRESENTS RICHOCHET BY CHRISTOPHE CANATO (AUSTRALIA | FRANCE)

13 – 24 January 2016, L4 ION Art Gallery

Christophe Canato’s rich photographs of  darkly lit portraits and still life trigger memories of one’s childhood. In  this  emotional  space  between  affection  and fascination, animals are featured and mimed. Each  evocative  piece  brimming  with  a  sense  of mystery delves into the psyche of childhood and looks  at  the  imagination  held  only  within  the  mind of the child. In reference  to  wildness  and  nature,  the  series  of  haunting  photographs  and  videos  in Ricochet will bring us back to our instincts and memories.

“It is not just that the boyhood imagination is inventive, it is also collective. Ideas  are  shared,  actions mimicked,  styles  adopted  and  tales  believed. The period  before  puberty  is  one  in  which  we  first  discern  the  expectations  the world has of us. Having left the close embrace of the maternal to explore the nature of being an individual, the child discovers demands are being made, ambitions  set... There  is  tension  between  a  desire to  conform  and the  urge
to discover what might be possible." — Alasdair Foster, Cultural Development Consulting

French-Australian  visual  artist  Christophe  Canato  has  been  living  and  working  in  Perth, Western Australia since 2005. After receiving his DNSEP in 1989 (comparable to a Master in Fine Arts) and a Diploma  of  Fashion  from  the  prestigious  Institut  Français  de  la  Mode  (French  Fashion  Institute)  in 1993, Canato has continued to draw on his background in the Paris Fashion industry.