A tale of two hemispheres.

Brett Weir is a gent intent on enjoying the best of both worlds. From creating captivating art near some of Gippsland’s most striking beaches, namely Cape Liptrap (the location of his handcrafted home and studio), or servicing international solo exhibitions this year in Zurich, Berlin and ending with his first solo institutional exhibition at the newly renovated Gippsland Art Gallery in Sale, when it reopens in December.
Brett possesses talent with either a paintbrush or a hammer, as well as the acumen to achieve recognition in the European art world.
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My name is Brett Weir. I’m 38-years-old and a full-time practising artist. I exhibit both nationally and internationally, with solo exhibitions coming up this year in Zurich, Berlin and the new Gippsland Art Gallery in Sale, when it reopens. For much of the past 10 years, I have based myself in Zurich, Switzerland, but I grew up in Drouin and have built my home as an owner-builder near Cape Liptrap. The strong connection I have to Gippsland has remained one of the few constants in my life.

The editorial crew at Gippslandia have asked me to summarise my life and practice, and talk about plans for the future. As far as the future is concerned, there’s not much I’d like to change from the current program of exhibiting in both hemispheres, allowing me to maintain contact with my audience in Europe as well as my family and this place.

My painting practice has its roots in Gippsland, which remains the strongest point of reference for me. Although I majored in drawing during my studies at the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne, painting has become my main focus over the past decade. As a boy, I would accompany my aunt on plein air watercolour painting trips, but it wasn’t until my second or third year living abroad that a potent homesickness compelled me to start creating oil paintings from photos I had taken of the familiar landscapes of Gippsland. These paintings hung on the walls of my Zurich apartment as artificial windows to a place that seemed so far away, yet still fundamentally important to me. Since then my work has evolved from its figurative roots to a less descriptive method of painting that draws influence from music,

Since then my work has evolved from its figurative roots to a less descriptive method of painting that draws influence from music, personal memory and my environment. Rather than seeking to replicate a landscape through paint, as I once did, my endeavour now is to try to capture something that neither photography, words or figuration can grasp; something intangible familiar to my audience.

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Brett Weir / February 2017 / Cape Liptrap. Brett’s work is available to view on his website, brettweir.com, through Facebook, Instagram, or by representation - michaelreid.com.au/berlin.

Detail, Untitled, 2016
Oil, aerosol and mixed media on aluminium
100x120cm

Untitled, 2016
Oil, aerosol and mixed media on aluminium
100x100cm (49 panels)

Untitled, 2016
Oil, aerosol and mixed media on aluminium
40x25cm

Detail, Untitled, 2016
Oil, aerosol and mixed media on aluminium
100x120cm