To be inspired by where you live, to make it not only you’re living but to create beautiful, meaningful, contemporary art from it is an exceptional ability. With the Blue Mountains as his backdrop and inspiration, Dan Kyle has done just that. His style is unique and recognisable, figurative and yet abstract, soft, gentle and deeply, intuitive.
Dan Kyle grew up in Western Sydney; a childhood spent in Blacktown where much of his family still live. An accomplished artist, studying at Sydney University; he was and is continually called back to the bushland of the Hawkesbury and ancient Blue Mountains landscape where he has called home for some 15 years.
Dan’s story is one of vision, purpose and individuality. Alongside his many commendations and awards, he was fortunate enough to be selected for the Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship 2020. An honour in and of itself. Dan is widely collected, sort out by a discerning art community and all-round nice guy.
The WEST Journal has followed his journey for some time. Inspired by a succession of collections as his personal style evolves, grows and develops. To be able to share his story is to tell the narrative of success coming out of Western Sydney. That beauty is just around the corner and that you can live, work and share your passion without having to leave family, friends and your own personal sense of place.
Dan commented, “I'm fortunate enough to live on the edge of the western suburbs, I moved 15 years ago from the Blacktown area to the Hawkesbury. I’ve never seriously wanted to live anywhere else, even when I was commuting into Sydney for Uni, I would always be desperate to be back out here. I'm obsessed with the bush up here, as a subject in my art practice and I love its proximity to the urban centres that are alive with culture that I can tap in and out of whenever I please.”
Dan also works as an art educator for his local regional gallery, empowering others to be proud and confident. Here again, he helps champion stories of others here, living in Western Sydney. So what is it that inspires Dan and what is it that he wants to connect us to?
Dan’s response is simply and beautifully; “I'm literally smack bam in the middle of the bush overlooking the Cumberland Plain. I'm flanked by two creeks, it's the most spectacular setting to live and work. I am forever grateful. It is constantly inspiring, from the mornings in the clouds and the sun setting to the west through the gum trees, I always take these moments into the studio, and I never tire of it. I want to show people who live in the urban jungles that the bush exists, and it is so close. Don’t forget about it, try to connect to it, it is so powerful, and healing and it is unappreciated. People aren't aware of its perpetual beauty, and they can be, and it can change their lives. “
Dan signature style is born out of this inspiration and out of serendipity. The colour palette was at first accidental, being a student without the cash to buy the typical, complex oil paint palettes. He bought a lot of white paint and toned everything down, realising then that the bush is actually like that, he tells us. There is little contrast, and it can feel so washed out sometimes with the sun rinsing it of its colours. Overlay this with the colours of the sunset and you can see why he is drawn to the pinks and oranges that are so very recognisable what he creates.
Dan is a passionate person, from his love of art to his love of nature, to where he lives and into where he works. The sharing of this passion, art, is evident. The subtle message of the beauty of the Australian Bush is woven into his creations and hints at his own connection to Country, love of nature and good fortune to spend his days immersed en plain air in the bush and in his studio.
This concept of Connection to Country is shared by all First Nations People. We asked Dan what his thoughts were on non-first nations artist exploring this narrative
“I live in a place where First Nations history is everywhere. It is always in my thoughts, especially in the studio. I cannot believe I went through school, and we didn't learn anything about the Darug peoples, and that the true narrative of Australia was kept from us. As young people it is so important and I know it is slowly changing in schools now which is great,” Dan told us.
Growing up, like many from the Western Suburbs, was tainted by a stigma. The desire to be accepted and to feel ashamed to be from Blacktown or Penrith was a real thing. Dan talked about the perception, then, from the self-appointed cultural elite. Discovering Art school, even trying out city life brought Dan to exactly where he is meant to be. He found himself drawn back to open, green spaces and ultimately the rugged landscape of the Hawkesbury.
We asked Dan about the professional world of art as he sees it today; “It's so different now, I have such strong pride about where I have grown up and the life my parents gave me. We feel that coming from the west commands immediate respect in art circles and when you meet people, and they say they're from Blacktown it's an instant unbreakable connection. It's pretty-special, like a cool, secret club.”
For Dan, life is seriously magical. If he is not working at the gallery, he spends his time surrounded by the Hawkesbury Landscape. And if he isn’t in the studio painting, he is outside hiking, going for a run and getting joyfully lost in nature. The feel is, he says, liberating and this vision he shares in his artworks with us.
Dan Kyle is collected. By serious collectors. He is a great example of local talent, internationally recognised, desired by the cultural elite and with an inspiring career. He works with some of the top galleries in our capital cities and he would love to (curators and directors take note) hold an exhibition that travels across our regional galleries. Ever expanding, he is also working with metal and applying his eye to sculpture. A new challenge and new adventure for Dan.
The West Journal always loves to discover our, sometimes hidden, talent that lies within Western Sydney. Dan has travelled and explored the landscape with his art and continues to bring us a vision that is mesmerising. A true talent and one who’s story hopefully inspires others. A leading Australian Contemporary artist, Discover Dan Kyle.
Comments