Would you still call me a cowboy if I went to bed before midnight?, Mixed media on canvas, 183 x 92 cm
Say and It’s So is an exhibition by Harry Bayston exploring the idea an object represents versus the object itself. The show features a series of intertwined paintings and sculptures referencing philosophy, pop culture and everyday life with tongue in cheek, yet (almost) poetic observations. The pieces subvert symbols and status. By incorporating complementary and contrasting elements and icons, they serve as a critique of preconceived notions and societal expectations.
Pushing new feelings under my tough guy hat I got second hand Baby I’m a cowboy without the cow boy You say and it’s so what a man to you
- Harry Bayston
Harry Bayston is a currently Melbourne based artist whose expanded painting practice incorporates a stable of characters, symbols and text. He uses art as a form of catharsis; reflecting and examining life, from the excitements to the anxieties, through a constant state of over thinking. Harry holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honors) from UNSW Art & Design and is currently working on his Master of Fine Arts at RMIT. He has exhibited consistently over the past several years in multiple solo and group shows across Sydney. This marks his first Melbourne solo exhibition.