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By Jessica Huxley, Bond University journalism student
Varsity Lakes resident Joel Rea is making a splash in the Australian art scene.
The 28-year-old artist is Queensland’s only finalist in the Metro Gallery Art Awards alongside 24 other talents from across Australia.
The winner of the richest art award in the country worth $50,000 will be announced at the Metro Gallery in Victoria on July 26.
“It’s such an honour to be in the finals for this great award,” Mr Rea said.
“Many people who have won it have gone on to become world renowned artists.
“If I won, it would give me the financial security to expand and build up a body of work rather than having to sell everything I produce to live.”
The 1.25 square metre oil painting titled ‘Moment of Truth’ depicts Mr Rea in a suit throwing papers out of a briefcase into an oncoming tidal wave.
He said the painting was inspired by the string of natural disasters that occurred in Queensland and around the world.
“In the picture the man (me) knows he is close to death yet he uses his time left to get rid of things that he wasted time on during his life such as endless paperwork,” he said.
“I began to ask myself ‘what am I doing with my time left?’ and this painting was the result of asking those questions.
“The paper imagery is very powerful as it represents different things to everyone who views it.”
Federal Member for McPherson Karen Andrews said she was proud of Mr Rea's work, which aptly portrayed the plight of so many Queenslanders at a personal and individual level.
"It is fantastic to see a local Varsity artist represent our state in the Metro Gallery Art Award and it will really lift the profile of our local artists here on the Gold Coast," she said.
Mr Rea said he plans to continue living and working on the Coast
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