Jasper Knight: It Takes a Thief to Catch a Thief

I’ve long been an admirer of Jasper Knight’s use of primary acrylic colours in large-format works, and have even tried to imitate them myself (with results that are consistent if only in their mediocrity).

So, when visiting Melbourne on the weekend, I was delighted to wander past his latest exhibition at Armadale’s Metro Gallery.  When entering the space, a huge LA freeway painting adorns the wall.  This is signature Knight style, overwhelming not only in its scale but subject matter, complete with slightly nauseating free-drawn lines.  But my favourite of all was the mixed media works of various police transportation vehicles, including a helicopter (above) and van (below).  These subject matters perfectly compliment Knight’s naive aesthetic, and their depth and colour give them a sense of complexity and discovery.