Artist turns to cutting-edge artistic practice
Renowned WA multidisciplinary artist Leon Pericles is in his three-dimensional era for his latest exhibition Objecticus Eclecticus at Linton & Kay Galleries Cottesloe.
Electric in the sense that the works are more cutting-edge than Pericles' usual artistic practice, the exhibition features 25 original works and sculptures including etchings and interactive elements.
'I always prefer to work on the cusp of something edgy that I've invented,' Pericles says.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.
'I can be influenced, but I never copy.'
It has been eight years since Pericles' 50-year retrospective exhibition, Scratching the Surface, as he works between home studios in Margaret River and East Perth, inspired by a range of diverse interests and deep curiosity about the world around him. Leon Pericles's latest exhibition Objecticus Eclecticus at Linton & Kay Galleries Cottesloe. Credit: Ross Swanborough / The West Australian
Forever supported by his creative counsel and manager, wife Moira, until her advanced dementia, it is a career that led Pericles to being appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2023 King's Birthday Honours for his significant contribution to the visual arts.
The honour came in the aftermath of a personal revelation by Pericles, discovered by chance while watching a late night Australian Story episode on Archibald Prize winning artist Vincent Fantauzzo, speaking about his dyslexia.
'I related to everything he was saying so much,' Pericles says.
'So at midnight, in the middle of the bush in Margaret River, at the age of 74, I suddenly realised I was totally and absolutely dyslexic. Everything fell into place. I'd had a highly stressful existence all my life. I tried to hide the fact that I was called an idiot more often than deservedly at school. I was laughed at, but I had enough wit about me to be amusing and funny, and so I was okay.' WA artist Leon Pericles' latest exhibition Objecticus Eclecticus at Linton & Kay Galleries Cottesloe. Credit: Ross Swanborough / The West Australian
Those experiences at school, plus a love of art, took him to Perth Technical School on James Street in the early 1970s, despite his father wanting him to pursue a career in engineering.
It was during his days as a technical college art student that Pericles discovered art supplies store Jacksons.
'We would walk over to the Jacksons store on William Street, which had quite a big facade to it,' he recounts.
While he would glean as much knowledge as he could from owner Mr Jackson during those formative years, Pericles would eventually become a go-to artist that Jacksons shop assistants would phone for advice, particularly for printmaking. WA artist Leon Pericles' latest exhibition Objecticus Eclecticus at Linton & Kay Galleries Cottesloe. Credit: Ross Swanborough / The West Australian
Pericles in now adding to his long association with Jacksons by joining the Jacksons' 70th anniversary art competition judging panel alongside sculptor Georgia Zoric, Jacksons general manager Scott Boercamp and PerthNow Local newspapers editor Arylene Westlake-Jennings.
PerthNow and Jacksons are inviting artists across Perth to submit original artwork that celebrates what they love most about their local Jacksons store and their community to be in the running for $5000.
Visit perthnow.com.au/jacksons for more information.
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