ANTHROPOCENE

KGB family links; dissident and activist; political prisoner; chemical torture; political refugee; artist Arthur Apanski’s life reads like a story that could have been torn from the pages of a John le Carré novel. A self-taught artist Arthur’s finely rendered, incredibly detailed paintings draw on his harrowing and indelible experiences in the former Soviet Union to question political, corporate and religious power paradigms, militarism, greed and hypocrisy and the slippery slope that faces all people and nations once knowledge is curtailed and freedoms are lost.

Arthur’s exhibition Anthropocene explores the current world epoch and questions the insidious nature of humanity’s impact on every aspect of life on this planet. Never before in the world’s history has one organism so dominated and been able to influence life not only in the present but with grave implications for the future.

This exhibition of selected works is the culmination of a nearly ten year journey by the artist to articulate his concerns and provide a forum to discuss these pervasive yet difficult issues. The exhibition also provides a glimpse into the development of Arthur’s artistic practice as it has evolved from his early biblical-like apocalyptic paintings to subtler images informed by his life and the landscape in Wollongong’s northern suburbs. In spite of all its dark undercurrents and foreboding messages and themes Arthur’s work offers a glimmer of optimism; for with the freedom to acknowledge and speak about issues we give ourselves the power to change our future.