Sydney artist Sophie Cape. Image: courtesy National Art School.
A forthcoming show by National Art School graduate, Sydney artist and former sprint cyclist Sophie Cape at the Olsen Irwin Gallery in Woollahra, will feature new works inspired by her choice to reflect and pause.
‘It’s been such a whirlwind; I feel like I need to process everything that I have taken in over the last two years, and take that to the next level.
‘Sometimes you need to pull yourself back and reassess where you’re at and that’s what I’d like to do. I’ve basically been like a sponge soaking up absolutely everything. Now I need to really hone it, process it, and see what comes out of it,’ she said.
While still very much in the early stages, Cape said that she would like to produce the works in a studio context, away from her favoured process of working out in the environment.
‘Creating art for me has become a really cathartic process. If I don’t make art I go completely insane, so I’ve found a way to create art – it’s almost like I’m competing – and I have developed this process that’s really personal to me,’ she said.
Cape adds that her representation at the Olsen Irwin Gallery has been ongoing. ‘I was really lucky. I got picked up the Tim OIsen Art Gallery straight after art school and had a show there, and it’s just kind of gone really well ever since.’
Completing the Bachelor of Arts (Painting) at the National Art School in 2010, Cape said that experience was life-changing. ‘I always wanted to go to art school but never saw it as a viable option. I thought I would just go for six months and get it out of my system but I absolutely loved it.’
‘I was going in as a mature-age student. I didn’t want to waste time, I really wanted to get the most out of it and also the fact that all of the teachers there are renowned; practising artists is a big plus as well.’
‘Whether you become an artist or not, the National Art School will teach you so much about how you view the world. It is completely invaluable to you as a human being and I would recommend that course to absolutely anybody.’
Applications to the National Art School are currently invited for a range of full-time programs in 2015.
For more information register for Open Day on Saturday 30 August or visit the National Art School website.
