Marise Mass is exploring grand stories in small things in her next exhibition. 70507 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By Vanessa Chircop
FOR full time artist Marise Maas, the little things in life are what inspire her to work.
Whether it’s an overheard conversation, a domestic situation or an everyday task – Marise focuses on the minutiae of life, resulting in artworks presenting celebrations, contemplations and criticisms.
Marise said she would describe her works as figurative rather than abstract.
“They’re not very realistic,” she said.
“I glorify the banal.
“I look at things really closely, it’s always in the really small details you find the grander stories – in small mundane little happenings.”
Marise has been working as an artist full time for more than a decade and despite her many years of success, admitted it hasn’t always been easy.
“Art school was a lot of years of not being able to live off it (her work),” she said.
“It takes a long time.”
“When you’re younger you don’t care if you go hungry for a little while.
“You just challenge yourself to do it.”
The Altona resident’s next exhibition will be held at Flinders Lane Gallery on 11 October.
In many of Marise’s paintings, horses stand in for people and feature heavily in her work.
“They’re just a beautiful animal – they were the first thing I ever drew as a little girl,” she said.
“They just kept cropping up.
“All of a sudden I had horses everywhere.
“This show and the next show in March in Sydney are not dominated by horses, I got it all a little out of my system.”
For more information about the exhibition visit www.flg.com.au.
