Still Surplus by Brandt Lewis

Brandt Lewis’ latest exhibition Still Surplus continues his exploration of still-life painting. He resumes his experiment with the manikin as a way of bringing a narrative figurative element to still-life painting. The use of these props has been sustained across four of Lewis’ exhibitions and remains a significant interest to his work.

The underlying themes in this exhibition are conflict and dispersal. Evolving from staged tableaus as compositions in earlier exhibitions, the scenes have become wooden replicas of their former selves. The subjects find themselves scattered on oceans of drapery, flung from their transport boxes, housed in cardboard, tussling with other members of their troupe – obedient to the artist’s direction. By using his unique format of still-life, Lewis cleverly steers his fresh and engaging chronicles in Still Surplus.

“My continuing fascination in theatre and set design is a result of my teaching stint at NIDA in the early nineties. This has had a lasting impact on my art practice as I continue to explore narrative themes from absurdist theatre and everyday life.” – Brandt Lewis