Diokno Pasilan

What is your connection to Ballarat?

I arrived here with my wife and son for the first time about 8yrs ago. We had only lived between Perth and the Philippines and wanted to experience life in another Australian state. Ballarat was chosen for many reasons including living in an attractive city that was close enough to Melbourne, but not in a suburb.

How did your journey as an artist begin?

I was naturally drawn to visual arts from early childhood as I grew up in a boat building community on an island in the Philippines amongst craftsmen carpenters. I always wanted to draw and create works from the offcuts of wood I would find lying around. My career has been in visual arts focussing on paintings, sculpture, photography and print-making. I never formally studied art, but in the late 1990’s I was interested to learn how art was taught, so while living in Western Australia, I completed a Diploma in Fine Art at the WA School of Art, Design & Media in Perth.

I am represented by The Drawing Room Contemporary Art Gallery (Manila) with works exhibited in solo and group shows in Manila, HK Art 11, Art Stage Singapore, Scope Basel, Sydney Contemporary 13 and Melbourne Art Fair together with many regional and national shows.

How would you describe your practice?

My practice and interest revolves around inter-media contemporary art focussing on painting, sculpture and print-making. I also explore working with repurposed materials especially for community art projects. I am constantly looking at ways to evolve and change my approach to work using different mediums. The work I produce reflects on aspects of memory that have been enriched by communities and their material culture. I work from my studio at home in Ballarat as well as providing creative art projects in schools and community groups.

What are you working on right now?

I am producing a new body of etchings that will be compiled into small artworks and artbooks that will be shown at next year’s Melbourne Art Fair together with large-scale paintings I have prepared. I am also organising a group show that will be held in December at the Old Butcher Shop in Soldiers Hill.

How would you describe the creative community in Ballarat?

I have been impressed by the creative art scene in Ballarat. There are a lot of opportunities to get involved with projects - either through independent, regional council initiatives or collaborations. About four years ago, together with photographer, Scott Fredericks, we decided to provide a platform for artists to present their work to a different audience beyond the traditional gallery. That culminated in the formation of RAT Art Space – a not-for-profit artist run space for emerging and established artists. Since its inception, until its recent closure, we organised monthly exhibitions at Ballarista Café in Ballarat.

Can you give us three words that sum up your inspiration?

Keep thinking art.

Website: dioknopasilan.com