Tim Ellis brings everyday moments to life at Cairns Art Gallery
FLEETING “GLIMPSES”
The everyday moments you might pass by without noticing are exactly what Mossman-based artist Tim Ellis brings to life in his new exhibition, Glimpses, on display at the Cairns Art Gallery from 27 January to 16 March.
A well-known artist in the region, Ellis has exhibited in galleries across Cairns and Queensland. His new collection features 12 detailed large-scale paintings inspired by memories and fleeting moments of everyday life.
“These are the kinds of things you might pass by without noticing, but when you stop and take them in, they can be so captivating,” he explained.
He often draws inspiration from the unusual details of everyday life, like a chance encounter in the Mossman Woolworths car park.
“Someone left a shopping trolley with a pink unicorn toy inside and a cooked chicken hanging off the back,” Mr. Ellis said. “They must have packed their car and completely forgotten the trolley. It was such a strange image that I ended up painting it.”
“If any Newsport reader remembers leaving that trolley, I’d love to hear from them!” he added with a laugh.
Blending his cinematic background as a former London-based art director and set designer Ellis uses story, character, and scenery to present vivid portrayals of life’s “somewhere-else” moments.
Since Glimpses is about moments, I wanted to add an extra layer by showing the passage of time by incorporating video projections onto some of the paintings,” Ellis shared.
In one painting, for instance, Ellis depicts pedestrians’ feet on a bus, overlaying it with moving projections of tunnel lights to create a sense of motion and the transience of time.
“I hope people will feel a connection to the paintings and start noticing these moments in their own lives.”
For the past 20 years, Ellis has called Mossman home, drawing endless inspiration from the region’s landscapes, people, and light.
“Moving to regional Queensland was such a contrast—the light, the people, the architecture, and the landscapes are so different and inspiring,” he said.
My background in film helps me tell stories in my paintings, and a lot of those stories come from the people and places in this region,” he said.
The free exhibition runs for six weeks from Saturday, 25 January, at Cairns Art Gallery, open daily. More info: https://www.cairnsartgallery.com.au/whats-on/exhibitions/tim-ellis
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