Creative Trails Featured Artist -Darren Charlwood
Artist biography
Born in Camperdown, in Sydney’s Inner West in 1974, Darren is the youngest of five siblings. He grew up in Redfern surrounded by the newly empowered Aboriginal community in the 1980’s. Darren left school early to pursue a career in butchery, however his love of art had already been born. Darren would often paint Aboriginal landscapes and give his paintings away as presents to family and friends. After the breakdown of two long-term relationships and the death of his father, Darren found himself in the grips of a drug addiction and living in the streets.
One day, while under the influence of drugs, he wondered into Eora TAFE and met an art teacher by the name of Chico Monks. Chico encouraged Darren to return and possibly enrol in an Aboriginal Art course at TAFE and after viewing some of his work, to continue painting. Encouraged by this chance meeting, Darren enrolled at Eora TAFE and begun to attend classes while looking for accommodation and trying to kick the drug habit. By the end of his course, Darren graduated with top marks from Eora TAFE and was awarded the Excellence in Studio Practice Award and was encouraged to pursue his art practice further.
Darren credits art with saving his life and getting him off the streets and back to being a contributing member of society, as well as the guidance and help from the Aboriginal community in the inner West. Darren is now living a sober life and is undertaking a BA of Visual Arts and Archaeology at Sydney College of the Arts (Sydney University) where he is excelling. He has also been made a member of Boomalli Artists Co-operative and has exhibited his artwork at several shows and galleries. Darren’s art is deeply rooted in his experiences as a Wiradjuri man, a father, a son and a member of the urban Aboriginal community of Sydney’s Inner West. Within the urban context, Darren produces pieces which reflect his environment. He makes use of recycled materials which come from the urban environment, something which is based on the Aboriginal tradition of only using what is needed from the environment.
Artforms used
Painting on canvas and recycled board. Installations. Wood carvings using recycled and re-claimed wood. Bone carvings using emu bone sourced from traditionally hunted animals.
Current work and inspiration
My current work is influenced by the plight of our environment. My ancestors sustained a unique connection to the environment based on their management and relationship with country. This relationship was disturbed by colonisation and the results can be seen in contemporary Australian society which is largely based on a culture of waste. We have access to new items through consumerism and as a result we discard old items without a thought of the impact upon the environment.
Through my art, I am attempting to highlight that these discarded items can be utilised and re-cycled and re-claimed and used not only as functional items but as art. I comb through council collection piles and use the objects that I find in my art and thus practice the Aboriginal tradition of using and taking only what you need from the environment.
Locations where this work can be seen
I am taking part in the Inner West Creative Trails through Boomalli Aboriginal Arts Co-operative.
My art can also be seen through online gallery Bluethumb: https://bluethumb.com.au/darren-charlwood
Website and social media links
Website: Bluethumb: https://bluethumb.com.au/darren-charlwood
Boomalli Artists Co-Operative: https://www.boomalli.com.au/darren-charlwood/
Social media: @dcharlwoodart on instagram