If you happen to see Robin Eley’s painting hanging on the wall, you would certainly wonder why the owner has not bothered to remove its torn transparent plastic sheet wrapper from it. It will certainly take you some time to realize that the torn plastic sheet or the bubble wrap on it is part of the painting!
Truly, Eley is a master of painting illusions that he renders with hyper-realistic precision. He not only paints the subject but also veils it by painting clear plastic film and tape on it. This unique masterful technique of presenting artwork is certainly one of its kind. To better understand, have a look at Eley’s reproduction of Vincent van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’, where he not only replicated the masterpiece but also added the illusion of a plastic film covering the painting that is untidily torn at the center.
Born in London, England, Eley migrated to Australia with his family where he completed his secondary education. He then moved to the US and attended Westmont College, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Art. He eventually settled in Los Angles in California, USA.
Why Eley adds plastic wrap to famous works is his way of conveying the isolation in the modern world. According to him, it is “something you can see through, but not feel through.” The wrapping that shrouds his paintings add to the intrigue and compels the viewers to visualize their unwrapping.
Eley’s work has been recognized around the world. He is a recipient of many honors and awards, such as the Contemporary Realism Biennial, Juror Invitational Merit Award, RSASA Star Portraits Winner, Rips It Up Emerging Artist Award, and many more. Besides, he was Runner Up and Highly Commended in Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, the world’s richest prize for portraiture, as also a finalist in the Archibald Prize, the Eutick Memorial Still Life Art Prize, and the Nora Heysen Still Life Art Award.
Eley’s works have been displayed in many solo and group exhibitions. His work is in the permanent collection of Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art in Santa Barbara, California. He also had a stint as a part-time lecturer in Visual Communications at the University of South Australia and as a Mentor in Jump Mentoring Program in Australia Council for the Arts. He was the Director of The Art Academy, South Australia.
He has a viewership of over 78,000 followers on Instagram alone.
Image Via: Robin Eley Instagram
Robin Eley
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