Anya Brock

Every series of Urban Walkabout Guides is unique and visualised by a local artist whose illustrations grace the covers. Their expressions work with ours to bring you Perth precincts in all their colours. There’s always a story behind their practice and outputs, so here we give a little more on The Artists. Meet Anya Brock, her artwork is featured on the second issues of our Urban Walkabout Perth series 2011/2012

Tell us a little about your artwork.
My pieces happen usually without too much planning or thought- well the best ones do! I try to experiment with different subject matter and techniques as much as possible but the central theme is always vulnerability. Some of the titles are fairly heart wrenching!

How did your journey start?
I actually started in fashion. I studied for 3 years then started my own label ANAN which I ran for 7 years. In 2009 I moved to London and worked for Christopher Kane and Richard Nicoll for a couple of years. I've always drawn and created things- I guess it's just been the last year that I've focused entirely on painting.

What have been your biggest challenges?
I find when I'm doing something that I love nothing really feels that much of a challenge, everything happens fairly organically without much force.  I guess my biggest challenges lie in my head- getting myself to a point where I can attempt something new.

What keeps you motivated to continue creating?
I'm not sure exactly- it's just this excitement I feel in me when I think about creating something new. I also love the lifestyle painting allows me. I've pretty much worked for myself since I was 19 so I like not having someone tell me when I can eat lunch or go on holidays.

Who or what inspires you?
Passionate, happy people inspire me. People doing exactly whatt they want to be doing and those that take risks and try new things. In terms of artists, I love Jean Michel Basquiat and abstract expressionists Franz Kline, Robert Motherwell and Clifford Still, as well as Australian painters Brett Whiteley, Abby Mcculloch, Karlee Rawkins and Kate Shaw. And I think nature has a pretty massive influence on what I do, things that are out of our control.

What is Perth’s best-kept secret?
There's no secrets in Perth! Ha ha, no, I love Bathers Beach in Freo.

What's different about living in Perth?
Well I just got back from London about a year ago so EVERYTHING is different. I guess Perth (compared to other Australian cities) is pretty laid back and relaxed, well Freo is anyway. Its a very pretty city with amazing beaches and beautiful weather.

Whose artwork have you collected or would you like to collect for your home?
I actually don't own art from many other artists- I mainly collect art books.. I have one painting by Abdul Abdullah and thats really it. I would absolutely love work from Karlee Rawkins, Abby Mcculloch or Kate Shaw.

Tell us about your latest project?
Right now I'm working towards a show in July with a photographer friend. He's on an expedition in Antarctica right now so when he gets back I'm painting abstracted versions of his photos which will be exhibited together. I have no idea what it's going to look like so it's pretty exciting!

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