It would not defy logic to now refer to Australian painter David Kaneen as a ‘Greek Australian’ artist. Apart from living in Greece since 2000 (and for six months in 1994), David has a Greek wife and children, has worked here, and continues to paint here.
Now 63, David Kaneen has been painting from a young age in Australia and throughout his adult life, much of which includes Greece where he exhibits consistently.
While in Australia in 2019, he was awarded the 1st Prize, Contemporary Art Award at the Victorian Artists Society, Melbourne. It’s a prestigious Art prize by the VAS, who were founded in 1870 and are one of Australia’s leading art institutions.
Exhibitions of his work in Greece have been hosted at venues such as the Athenian ‘Riviera’ suburb — Paleo Faliro, Aegina, Mykonos, Parko Tritisi and other locations. His latest exhibition is at the cultural centre ‘Aggelon Vima‘ featuring here until 5th April in the two gallery spaces of this stylish, restored old villa in central Athens. The space also includes a music foyer, and a theatre – currently hosting Australian plays.
Opening night attendance at David’s exhibition was excellent. Apart from fancier treats such as salmon, prosciutto and cheese, sample Australian treats also welcomed the crowd: petite, crustless triangle sandwiches including Vegemite spread, and hundreds and thousands (fairy bread)! Australian wine was also served, amongst other drinks and snacks, creating an evening pleasing to the senses on many levels.
David’s paintings, while not quintessentially Greek or Australian, include aspects of and influences from both countries. Much of his prior work mainly depicts landscapes and realism, but the artist claims that this has now changed.
His preferences now tend more towards the abstract, which he describes as “incorporations of my thoughts about my surroundings, but not just defined to that.”
The viewers of this latest exhibition show a preference towards his brightly patterned, abstract series — with conceptual titles including ‘Between the Lines’, ‘Fishing Net’ and ‘Chainsaw Puzzle’.
Other unique works that garnered much attention and fascination were renditions with additional ‘organic’ features incorporated into the paintings. Selectively placed cardboard collage, bones and even red chillies adorn some of the artist’s works.
I asked David which of his paintings are currently his favourites to which he replies — his new colourful, abstract series.
“I’ve done quite a few landscapes and felt I wanted to branch out to something more expressive, with colour; something which represents a little more than what the eye sees,” he clarifies.
“Instead of what is obviously visible to the human eye, and copying it like in many landscapes, when painting my abstracts I rely on other senses to paint ideas into forms; images that often don’t exist anywhere except in my own mind, in my perception at the time of my painting.”
With all due respect, back to the ‘real world’, David now dedicates his time to painting as a full time job, instead of his former successful career in advertising.
“I don’t consider my art to be a job. It’s a passion!” he corrects me, adding “I’m no longer shackled by working for someone else.”
He describes feeling the effects of the Greek economic crisis (2009-2018), at its worst, like many Greeks in Greece. After 15 years of working as an artist and Art Director at a major international advertising firm in Athens, David was made redundant.
“My last five years at the job during the crisis saw my excellent pay gradually reduced before I was sacked. This was also the case unfortunately, with the other older, very experienced and well paid employees there too,” David said.
“I was the only foreigner there, but of course really felt the pain and shock of my Greek colleagues who, like myself, also had children to support.”
With resolve David states, “It took me a while to get used to the idea of not having a steady job, yet it didn’t take me long to get stuck into the paint, and a year later I had my first solo exhibition in Athens in 2016 and more followed.”
He commends the kindness and hospitality of the various curators of the art exhibition spaces who graciously considered his work worthy of solo exhibiting.
“I appreciate the positive reactions of everyone who not only host, but also attend the galleries to view my and other artists work,” he said.
“The depth of cultural knowledge and the pursuit of it by the Greek people doesn’t astound me. I’ve been living here for over two decades, have never pretended I’m a Greek like so many expats try to do. And even though I haven’t mastered the Greek language, I feel accepted and respected because people here can sense pretentiousness.
“I truly love Greece and the Greek people. I get them and they get me. They’re genuine, and that enhances my motivation to paint.”
