Pure & Simple
Inside Out Magazine July-August 2008
"If there's something that binds my pictures together it would be light," says Australian painter Angus McDonald. "In almost every piece, I'm chasing after the light as it passes over surfaces and planes and empty space. In doing so, I'm attempting to articulate simple statements about beauty which have a tranquil potency and that are truthful."
Angus's extraordinary execution of light, shape and texture, seen in his signature still-lifes, have made him one of the country's most celebrated contemporary artists. His monumental bovine and equine portraits, whether in the form of drawings, paintings, etchings or sculpture, have attracted similar praise. As one critic said of his 2008 'Snort!!' exhibition at Sydney's Tim Olsen gallery: "Maybe any animal, or any thing, becomes both beautiful and confronting when an artist pours as much into their representation, as much awe and care, as McDonald has lavished on his bulls."
The beast gets another forum in his Moo Design collaboration with furniture maker John Madden. This collection includes their award winning Ferdinand rocker and a series of handmade chairs and tables featuring cowhide and leather paired with carved timber.
Writing and photograhy sre other passions that cement this artist's place as a true creative force. In 2006-07 he spent a month in Antarctica as an expedition artist for the Mawson's Hut Foundation. His photos of the majestic emperor penguins and the dramatic icescapes of the region reinforce his gift for capturing light and nature, and were recently exhibited and sold to generate funds for the foundation's conservation efforts.
"There are many ways to express and explore your ideas," says Angus, who was awarded the Brett Whiteley Scholarship in 1995. "I enjoy embracing all the possibilities... But whatever I am working on, painting and drawing is at the heart of everything."