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Ian PROVEST is an Australian conceptual artist based in Sydney. Work mediums: lens based still and moving image, installation, sculpture, assemblage and printmaking. Selected to hang in The Citigroup Private Bank, Australian Photographic Portrait Prize  (with The Archibald Prize at AGNSW _The Art Gallery of New South Wales) with a a portrait study of The Honourable Justice Michael Kirby AC CMG. Version hung foyer The Australian High Court Canberra. Exhibited in Sydney at MCA_ The Museum of Contemporary Art and in Canberra at NGA_ The National Gallery of Australia where they are represented in the permanent collection. In 2014 presented a premier preview of video and still photography at Photoindependant LA and in historic CCT_Charlie Chaplin Theatre Hollywood Los Angeles USA and at (CCA) - The Santa Fe Museum of Contemporary Art, New Mexico USA. In 2018 -invited - Solo (part retrospective) Exhibition at GRG_ Gosford Regional Gallery - NSW Australia - title, ‘Life Stock’. In 2020 exhibited CWALM at GRG – a lens based and assemblage landscape work. In 2018 - 2023 and  on-going - current work / research in progress:

The AIRof_project ( etching / photography / video / installation / 3D  ) and The Riverline / Biospear - project ( Video / still image / 3D / land art / sculpture / proposed biophilic - site specific legacy component. updated : November 2023

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2017 > 2025
the riverline /  biospear ( multi mediums - work in progress - site not on-line yet ) now: Nov.2023 

 

2020/23 > 25

AIRof Project ( work in progress from a photograph made in1970)

 

2020

CWALM – lens based and assemblage landscape work in ‘i s o lation’ Exhibition, Gosford Regional Gallery

 

2018

LIFE STOCK

solo exhibition

Gosford Regional Gallery

‘Life Stock’ doesn’t mark any specific dates. But it does celebrate a life. This presentation of thirty-three photographs and a video is instinctively selected and arranged by Provest, evoking an installation.
Kon Gouriotis OAM

 

2017

‘A Secret’ group exhibition, Contact Sheet Gallery, Sydney NSW
 

2016
The Laramie Project, Woy Woy Little Theatre. Set design and production support. Post performance exterior illuminated installation, ‘FOR MATTHEW’. Photographic work: FOR MATTHEW

 

2015

Work in progress: LIFE STOCK - Australia and Canada. Illuminated landscapes/bridges project in Ontario, Canada.

Donation for auction of photograph ‘FLUME’ 1/5 2013 for The Bouddi Foundation’s Arts Youth Scholarships fundraiser.
‘Bouddi at Bells’, Killcare NSW Australia.

Work begins on studio design and build at Wagstaffe home: ‘The OFFICE - Studio’.

Vacate their studio at idle Woy Woy abattoir and work from Wagstaffe home.

‘DELVE’, solo show, Art Studios Co-Operative Gosford NSW

'DECISIVE MOMENT': group show, Contact Sheet Gallery, Sydney NSW

2014

Work in progress: LIFE STOCK - Australia and USA

‘SUMMER’ Group exhibition - Sandy Edward’s ARTHERE, Black Eye Gallery, Sydney

The ABBEE illuminations, Photo Independent, Hollywood, Los Angeles, USA. Still photographs + extracts Screening + artists talk about the durational moving image work ‘The ABBEE illuminations’ at The (Charlie) CHAPLIN THEATRE, Hollywood USA. The Palms Springs Photo Festival USA

Extracts screening and artists talk: The ABBEE illuminations, The Santa Fe Centre for Contemporary Art - New Mexico, USA.
illuminated landscapes/bridges project in New Mexico, USA

Solo show - new images from ‘WELCOME to Timor Leste’, Arts Studios Co-operative Gallery, Gosford NSW.

 

2013

Self-appointed ‘artist in residence’ at idle abattoir, Woy Woy NSW.
Work in progress: The ABBEE illuminations durational performative video work and LIFE STOCK

Solo exhibition- installation of still photographs, ‘The ABBEE’, Sandy Edwards ARTHERE Gallery, Sydney, Australia.

MAPS 1 & 2 - Mindfulness Practices, UCLA. USA

ARTHERE group exhibition, selected works from ‘The ABBEE, Damien Minton Gallery, Sydney.

 

2009 - 2012

Graduate Diploma, The International Yoga Teachers Association, IYTA.

Set up studio at idle abattoir, an industrial site at Woy Woy, NSW.

Work in progress: The ABBEE; LIFE STOCK.

 

 

2009

Resigned as Head Teacher at Sydney Institute Design Centre Enmore to became full time practising visual artist.

Solo show 'WELCOME … to Timor-Leste' at ‘Tusculum', The Australian Institute of Architects, Sydney, NSW.

 

2008

Solo show 'WELCOME... to Timor-Leste'. The NSW Department of Education and Training (DET) Gallery, Bridge Street Sydney.

Work from 'WELCOME' : 'Drawing on a wall in room used for torture', 2005, East Timor. The International Exhibition 'PEACE' at The Regional Centre for Education and Training, Sharjah University City. United Arab Emirates.

On World Refugee Day a formal award of appreciation was presented to Ian Provest by The Governor General of Australia Philip Michael Jeffery AC, CVO, MC at Government House, Yarralumla, Canberra, in recognition of his support of AUSTCARE/ACTION AID and for his support of Landmine Action Week.

 

2007

Solo show 'WELCOME … to Timor-Leste'. The Sofitel Arts Hotel on Collins Street Melbourne Victoria. Opened by The Victorian Premier The Honourable Steve Bracks AC

 

2006

'WELCOME ... to Timor-Leste', The Sydney Institute Muse Gallery - TAFE NSW. Included in the exhibition are portraits of the then President of Timor-Leste and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, His Excellency Dr Jose Ramos-Horta.

Moved from Sydney to old farmhouse with grapevine at Wagstaffe, NSW

 

2005

Undertook self-initiated and funded project, 'WELCOME' travelling to Timor-Leste (East Timor) in late 2005 as part of an Austcare supporters’ group. It was led by the then Austcare CEO Michael G Smith AO Major General (Rtd), former Deputy Force Commander of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in East Timor. Provest volunteered to document Austcare's projects and the people of East Timor. A personal photographic portfolio was produced to form the 'WELCOME...to Timor-Leste ' Exhibition.

 

2003

Exhibited in 'HUNG DRAWN AND QUARTERED' at The University of Sydney's Tin Sheds Gallery.

The Citigroup Private Bank, AUSTRALIAN PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAIT PRIZE (in association with THE ARCHIBALD PRIZE, The Art Gallery of New South Wales).
A portrait study of The Honourable Justice Michael Kirby AC CMG.

Portrait study - The Honourable Justice Michael Kirby AC CMG, The Australian High Court Canberra.

 

1998

'SWISH' Casula Powerhouse - a series of silk photographic works in installation 'Cherish 1'.

 

1997

MA (Hons) at The University of Western Sydney.
GRADUATE SHOW
'BOUND - FROM MY FATHER’S BOAT-BOTANY BAY' installation at The Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, Western Sydney.

'AUSTRALIAN PERSPECTA', 'DECEASED ESTATE' IN 'FIBRO' at The Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, Western Sydney.

 

1996

Installation ‘BOUND - FROM MY FATHER’S BOAT-BOTANY BAY' in 'SYDNEY PHOTOGRAPHED EXHIBITION' at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney.

Met with British artist Richard Long, a long-time influence.

 

1994

'ROAM' in 'Light-Works from The National Gallery of Australia' at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney (MCA).

 

1993

Solo exhibition, photo-media based installation: 'Bound: From my Father’s Boat-Botany Bay' and 'ROAM'. Installed in the ABC's Foyer Gallery in Ultimo, Sydney.

Master of Art, UNSW College of Fine Arts (COFA) Paddington Sydney. Selected by the UNSW (COFA) works :'ROAM', represent COFA at The National Graduate Show at PICA - The Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, WA.

‘ROAM’ sandstone, glass, light work and photograph: STEP acquired by The National Gallery of Australia.

Exhibition : 'ROAM' in 'Medium Density - Contemporary Australian Drawings and Photographs' at The National Gallery of Australia. Canberra.

National Graduate Show - Perth Western Australia

Selected by The University of NSW to show a series of large scale photographs : series ROAM.

 

1992

Graduate Diploma in Visual Art. UNSW College of Fine Arts (COFA), Paddington Sydney.
GRADUATE SHOW

 

1987 - 2008

Full-time teacher (for 5 years) and Head Teacher (for 15 years) in Photography and Graphic Design at TAFE Sydney Institute, Randwick and The Design Centre Enmore in New South Wales.

 

1975 - 1987

Became chief photographer for The Hanimex Corporation, Sydney NSW.

Established photographic/art studio in Sydney. Clients included corporate, advertising, arts and architecture firms, editorial and personal work.

Part time teacher of photography, art and design at The Sydney Institute - Randwick TAFE, Graphic Design Courses.

Graduate Diploma in Education at Sydney College of Advanced-Education.

 

1974

Invited to work with Hans Buhner (Studio) in Hamburg, West Germany as his assistant. Clients: Stern Magazine, Phillips Corporation, Beck’s Bier fashion, food, and still life.
Travelled in Europe and the United Kingdom. Series of photographs produced in Hamburg including ‘The Reeperbahn red light district’ and ‘Early Sunday morning fish markets’ in St Pauli, Hamburg as well as Studio 8” x 10” large format plate film still life studies and studio portraits.

 

1971 - 1973

The Australian film industry at APA Films in Sydney as designer, artist and still photographer. Worked on television commercials and a 27 episode series The Evil Touch with Anthony Quayle, producing graphics and stills including portraits of Australian actors and 27 Hollywood film stars.

 

1971

Diploma in Graphic Design, National Art School, Sydney Institute. Signed by Australian artist John Coburn.

PROVEST was born June 3rd in Hornsby NSW Australia, educated at Waitara Public Primary School and Asquith Boys High School, majoring in art, with sculpture 1st elective. Produced sandstone sculpture; Rebound (1966) as their major work for graduation. Gerard Havekes "Water, Fire and Earth", a sandstone sculpture in Hyde Park Sydney was a major influence for this work, as was the work of Australian sculptor, Tom Bass. PROVEST studied with Tom Bass making a Picasso influenced bust.

 

1967 - 1971

Studied Art, St George Technical College, Sydney. Sculptor and teacher the late Bert Flugelman a notable influence > awarded PROVEST  high distinction in sculpture.

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